Capitol CBRT station still stalled as Cebu gov’t awaits DOTr update

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The proposed Capitol station of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) remains stalled as the Cebu Provincial Government awaits revisions from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to address concerns over its design.

Provincial Administrator Joseph “Ace” Durano said the latest communication from Governor Pamela Baricuatro to the DOTr was a request for the agency to comply with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) requirements.

The provincial government has yet to receive an update from the agency since April.

“That was for the DOTr to comply with. After that, we haven’t heard anything from them yet,” Durano told reporters in Cebuano on Wednesday, August 12.

Durano said the province is particularly concerned about where the station would be positioned, with the proposal still being considered for either the middle or side of Osmeña Boulevard.

The CBRT station would likewise have to meet heritage requirements without blocking the public’s view of the Provincial Capitol.

Debate over Capitol station location

The issue stems from the proposed CBRT stop in front of the Provincial Capitol, where officials and the NHCP have raised concerns about preserving the building’s historical view.

The Capitol was declared a national historical landmark in 2008, placing added importance on how the station would affect its surroundings.

READ: World Bank cuts $85M for CBRT, drops Packages 2 and 3

The NHCP earlier sought the Provincial Government’s official position on the planned station, which the DOTr proposed along the median of Osmeña Boulevard.

The historical commission instead recommended shifting the BRT lanes toward the roadside to keep the Capitol’s facade visible.

“As far as the governor is concerned, the only issue here is the Capitol station — whether it will be placed in the middle or on the side. And if it is placed in the middle, what design can be used so it won’t block the view,” Durano said.

Previous reports said the DOTr has appealed the NHCP’s recommendation regarding the station’s design.

The transport agency maintained that changes had already been made to make the structure smaller, bringing its height down from 4.7 meters to 3.0 meters and its width from 6.5 meters to 3.7 meters.

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The DOTr also said keeping the BRT lane in the middle would make travel smoother and cause fewer disruptions to other motorists.

Operations continue without station

While the Capitol stop remains unresolved, Durano said its absence has not prevented the CBRT from continuing its operations.

“As far as the Capitol is concerned, with the way it is operating, it’s okay even without a station there,” Durano said.

Durano said the Cebu City Government would also have a role in succeeding developments since it is the primary local government body overseeing the project.

The broader CBRT project, however, faces a separate challenge involving funding for its remaining Packages 2 and 3.

Package 1 covers around 2.38 kilometers between the Cebu South Bus Terminal, Fuente Osmeña Circle, and the Cebu Provincial Capitol area along Osmeña Boulevard, with an estimated cost of ₱990 million.

The section began partial operations in March 2026, while the Capitol stop remains subject to unresolved design and heritage concerns.

Packages 2 and 3 were subsequently withdrawn and canceled from the World Bank funding structure, cutting $85 million from the project’s financing.

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