CEBU CITY (Nov. 21, 2023) – Mayor Mike Rama has urged proponents of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project to hasten their work, especially at the city’s uptown area.
Rama made the call after hearing complaints from motorists and commuters concerning the bumper-to-bumper traffic felt due to the CBRT’s ongoing construction.
“Dili kay urging lang. I’m directing them,” Rama said in his “Ingna’ng Mayor” teleradyo program on the Sugboanon Channel earlier today.
The mayor criticized CBRT proponents for failing to coordinate with the City in handling the traffic situation within the project sites, causing massive gridlocks where they are constructing.
The lack of immediacy on the part of CBRT’s proponents is causing an inconvenience for the city’s constituents, Rama said.
“Ako nana sila giingnan nga ayaw mo pagtinonto diha. Kay gatoo mo kay abi BRT national (project), magbuot lang mo?” he said.
“As the mayor of the city of Cebu, there is still such a thing as order. Husto nana ang lording over, kinahanglan we dictate,” he added.
Rama cited the Local Government Code or Republic Act 7160, saying that the national government cannot implement projects at the local level without consulting with the concerned local government unit.
He said that he was even able to stop the implementation of two projects initiated by the Department of Public Works and Highways during his second term as mayor after concerned residents and motorists complained of inconvenience.
Removal of skywalks
Rama also called upon CBRT’s proponents to also hasten the removal of the two skywalks situated along Jones Avenue.
The mayor has asked City administrator Collin Rosell to follow up with the proponent if they can speed up the removal of the two structures.
Rama said he spoke to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista about it and the latter agreed for the skywalks’ transfer at the South Road Properties.
The mayor hopes CBRT’s proponents would start removing the two structures just before the Fiesta Señor next year.
“Dili nalang unta sila maghuwat ug January. Kay ig January, magsugod na sad ang mga procession sa fiesta like the Walk with Mary,” he added.
In earlier reports, CBRT proponents said the completion of the project will be further pushed to 2027 instead of 2025 due to changes in its design.
According to media reports, changes to CBRT’s design includes Package 4, composed of a dedicated lane from Bulacao to Mambaling; extension of the alignment from Ayala to IT Park; a rotunda underneath the Mambaling flyover; and the conversion of a mixed traffic lane along the South Road Properties (SRP) coastal road and along F. Vestil St. | PPRMN / jkv
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