CEBU CITY – The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project management office has dismantled steel structures, including poles and roofing, near the Cebu Capitol, in response to a request from local officials.
On Tuesday, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia confirmed that the removal of the structures, initially intended for the Capitol Station, followed a formal request from Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, citing heritage preservation concerns.
Mayor Garcia shared that he had received a letter from BRT project manager Norvin Imbong outlining the decision to take down the installations. "The structures were removed because Governor Garcia requested it," he said. "If the BRT project team needs space to store their materials, we can offer the South Road Properties (SRP) as an alternative site."
The mayor also noted that the removal would restore the visual prominence of the historic Cebu Capitol building. "This action helps bring back the sightline to the Capitol, preserving its visual integrity."
The move comes after Governor Garcia sent a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), asking for the suspension of the BRT station construction in front of the century-old Capitol due to concerns over its impact on the heritage site.
While the removal of the steel structures affects the first phase of the project, Garcia clarified that the materials could be repurposed for other stations within the BRT network. "The structures removed from Package 1 can be transferred to Stations in Packages 2 and 3, where they won’t interfere with heritage concerns," he said.
The first phase of the BRT project (Package 1) is located near Fuente Osmeña Circle in Cebu City, and it includes the construction of four stations, a 2.38-kilometer trunk line, and pedestrian improvements spanning 1.15 kilometers.
Package 2 of the BRT route will extend from the South Road Properties (SRP) to Barangay Mambaling via Natalio Bacalso Avenue, while Package 3 will cover the northern trunk line, running from the Capitol to North Escario, Gorordo Avenue, Arch. Reyes Avenue, and into the IT Park area.
In related news, Garcia also shared that representatives from the World Bank visited Cebu last week to accelerate progress on the BRT project, which is scheduled for completion before the expiration of its loan agreement in March 2026. The Php 29 billion fund must be fully disbursed by that time.
The city government is also working on securing right-of-way acquisition and resettling families affected by the project, with local authorities coordinating the necessary measures.