Cebu BRT contracts fully awarded in H1

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will award the remaining contracts for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) within the first semester, as it is on schedule to top off the initial phase of the project next month.

- ELIJAH FELICE ROSALES

Transportation Undersecretary Jesus Ferdinand Ortega yesterday said the first package of CBRT is on track to meet its deadline for completion on March 5.

With this, the DOTr has hit the ground running for the procurement of contractors who would be tasked to build the second and third phases of the CBRT.

Since there is an election ban, the agency is focused on wrapping up the selection process until it can proceed to signing a contractor in June. As stated in election rules, the government is barred from pursuing infrastructure projects unless they are included in the exemptions.

"CBRT Package 1 is on track for target completion by March 5. The procurement process for the contractors for the second and third phases is currently underway," Ortega told The STAR.

"We expect to finalize the selection and have a contractor in place by the second week of June," he added.