3 days Ago By Earl Kim H. Padronia
THE Cebu City Council approved on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, the creation of a resolution authorizing the purchase of lots to expedite civil works for Package 2 of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project. The council acted on an endorsement letter dated Nov.
21 from Acting City Administrator Kristine Joyce Batucan to City Councilor Nestor Archival. The City Legal Office (CLO) recommended passing a resolution to authorize Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to proceed with the lot acquisition. Batucan, who also heads the CBRT Project Monitoring Office (PMO), endorsed the CLO’s recommendation for the mayor to sign necessary documents covering 16 properties on F.
Vestil St., Barangay Mambaling. The property owners have agreed to sell their lots to the city government through the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Archival urged the CBRT PMO to provide the council with copies of lot titles, tax declarations, and extrajudicial settlements from all property owners. No irregularities The CLO, in its legal opinion dated Oct. 24, found no irregularities in the lot acquisition, which complies with Republic Act 10752 and Department of Public Works and Highways Order 152 of 2017 on right-of-way acquisition.
The lot acquisition will facilitate road widening for Package 2 of the CBRT project, currently facing delays since its implementation began in February 2023. Package 1, worth P1.048 billion, covers 2.
38 kilometers from the Cebu South Bus Terminal on N. Bacalso Ave. to the front of the Capitol building in uptown Cebu City.
The DOTr and Cebu City Government are expediting the bidding process for Package 2, which will cover routes from the Capitol to Cebu IT Park and from CSBT to South Road Properties. Package 3 will include routes to Barangay Talamban and Talisay City, with a 22.1-kilometer feeder line system planned.
The project’s total cost will be charged to the Cebu City Government’s accounts. / EHP.
