This was contained in the World Bank’s Implementation Status and Results Report released on Dec. 25, 2025.
In the report, the Cebu BRT project received an “unsatisfactory” rating for both overall implementation progress and progress toward achieving its Project Development Objective (PDO), with its overall risk rated high.
Inauguration setbacks
Considered one of its kind in the country, the Cebu BRT is among the administration’s flagship projects.
However, its much-awaited inauguration was postponed twice. It was initially set for Nov. 5 but was moved due to damage caused by Typhoon “Tino,” which triggered massive flooding in Cebu on Nov. 4.
It was rescheduled for Dec. 12 but had to be deferred due to the unavailability of President Marcos Jr. Local officials said the inauguration might take place after the Sinulog 2026 celebration on Jan. 18.
According to the World Bank report, the civil works package was substantially completed except for the Capitol Station, with a Partial Taking Over Certificate already issued.
However, the report noted that most of the remaining infrastructure —specifically busways and stations under Civil Works Packages 2 and 3—could not be completed within the project’s remaining implementation period of about nine months.
Critical actions lacking
“Further actions, including the acquisition of critical sites for terminals and resettlement, securing road right-of-way, and establishing the institutional framework and O&M (operations and maintenance) arrangements for the BRT, also cannot be completed,” the report said.
According to the report, the Cebu BRT project—approved by the World Bank on Sept. 26, 2014—was intended to improve the “overall performance of the urban passenger transport system along the project corridor in Cebu City in terms of service quality, safety, and environmental efficiency.”
The World Bank, a global organization that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries, has granted the Philippine government a loan of $141 million for the Cebu BRT — $116 million from its International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and $25 million in trust fund.
Funds largely undisbursed
However, the report said only 35.02 percent or $40.62 million of the IBRD loan had been disbursed while the trust fund remained untouched.
The report pointed out that only 2.38 kilometers of BRT bus lanes had been constructed as of Oct. 31, 2025, far short of the 12.16-kilometer target set for the project’s September 2026 closing date.
The report noted that, as of Oct. 31, there were no BRT bus depots or traffic systems in place.
It said outcome indicators—such as average daily passenger ridership, annual greenhouse gas emission savings, and passenger satisfaction—remained at zero.
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