Uncovered lapses during CBRT's 3-day inspection tour
Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Gears Up for Official Dry Run in September 2025
The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, a much-anticipated initiative aimed at modernising public transport in Cebu City, is set to begin its official dry run on September 29, 2025. This 13-kilometer span from the South Road Properties to the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) marks the first phase of the CBRT project.
Each CBRT bus can accommodate 40 seated passengers, with the capacity to carry up to 90 at peak with standing room. The CBRT promises a fast, air-conditioned ride at a base fare of P15 plus P2.65 per succeeding kilometer.
The success of the CBRT dry run and pilot runs will serve as proof of concept for whether the system can deliver the reliable, modern transport system that planners have promised. However, unresolved questions remain. These include whether intersection bottlenecks can be untangled in time, how quickly motorists and commuters will adapt, and how soon the full CBRT can be rolled out.
The Cebu City Mayor, Archival, has acknowledged that changes may not please everyone. Despite this, he stated that the CBRT project is on track but wants signage fixed before launch. Archival's concerns were echoed by Joshua Rodrigues, an inspector from the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Rodrigues warned that unless traffic lights and intersections are managed better, delays will blunt the system's promise of speed. His short-term fix for the dry run is to station more enforcers.
The CBRT route inspections were completed on September 19, 2025, and the inspections identified gaps in signage, intersection management, and station operations. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is responsible for approving and overseeing the implementation of Cebu City's Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP), in coordination with the DOTr. The LPTRP serves as the minimum requirement for issuing new public transport franchises and is the official blueprint for organising and modernising Cebu City's public transport routes.
The first segment to become operational, known as Package 1, is a 2.38-kilometer stretch with segregated bus lanes from the CSBT to the Capitol building. The bigger test for the CBRT will be in October with the Il Corso-Cebu IT Park pilot run.
The success of the CBRT could unclog roads and prove that Cebu can shift to modern mass transit. Several commuters and motorists complained that the trial run caused traffic jams, especially during peak hours. However, with the fixes and improvements implemented, the CBRT team remains optimistic about the system's potential to revolutionise public transport in Cebu City.
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