Senators question DOTR over continued funding for delayed Cebu BRT

Senators raised concerns during a DOTR budget hearing about continued payments for transportation projects that are still under review.

Senator Nancy Binay highlighted the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System, noting delays since its approval in 2014 and urging the government to decide whether to continue the project due to ongoing financial losses.

Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista confirmed partial payments have been made but could not provide details on total spending, with full operations now expected to launch in 2027.

Analysts like Nigel Paul C. Villarete of Libra Konsult advised studying ways to expedite stalled projects rather than canceling them outright.

Rene S. Santiago, former president of the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines, noted that the Cebu City Council adopted a resolution in April pushing to suspend civil works of the Cebu BRT due to low absorptive capacity and poor budget utilization by DoTr.