The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) implementing team has asked the provincial government for quotation of the cost they are obliged to pay the province for CBRT’s encroachment on Capitol-owned lots along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City.
Once the quotation is ready, CBRT project manager Engr. Norvin Imbong told Gov. Gwen Garcia on Monday, August 14, that they will have to forward it to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) central office for appropriate action, an initial step towards “just compensation” demanded by the Capitol.
CBRT, which costs around P17 billion in its entirety, is a planned mass transit system for Cebu City.
Its route comprises 11 km of segregated busways from Bulacao in southern Cebu City to Talamban in the north, linking key commercial districts such as Jones Ave., Capitol Site, Cebu Business Park, and Cebu IT Park, among others.
Phase 1 of the project starts in front of the Capitol, down to Osmeña Blvd., before taking a right turn to the Cebu South Bus Terminal. It will have at least four terminals, two of which will encroach on province-owned lots in front of the Capitol as well as another one at the Fuente Circle. It has a project cost of over P1 billion.
These encroached lots have previously been designated as road lots for the DPWH but not as bus stations of the CBRT project.
Gov. Garcia said as defender of the interests of Cebu and the Cebuanos, she is compelled by her duty as governor to demand “just compensation” from DOTr, the CBRT implementing agency, for the encroachment on Capitol-owned lots, especially since initial figures show that each bus station will have an area of 160 square meters, with a drainage system on both sides of the sidewalk.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself, during the ceremonial groundbreaking of the CBRT Phase 1 on February 27 this year, publicly ordered DOTr Sec. Jaime Bautista to settle obligations with the Capitol in the implementation of the CBRT.
“I want to remind the DOTr to ensure the just compensation of property owner who will be affected by the CBRT project,” the president said. “Sec Jimmy, kailangan tama ang gawin natin kundi kakatukan tayo ni Gov. Gwen at saka ni Mayor Mike.” | Babie Jane Revecoy