DOTr quizzed over shelved Cebu bus rapid transit project

The alleged snail-paced implementation of the Cebu Integrated and Intermodal Transport System was raised on Friday as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) faced the Senate for a budget hearing.

Deliberating the proposed P143 billion budget of the DOTr for 2021, Senator Nancy Binay revealed that not a single excavation was made to implement the P16-billion bus rapid transit project in Cebu City though the government made appropriations for it since 2015.

"Since 2015 to 2019, we have already spent P7 billion for this project at ni isang hukay wala pang nangyayari. By next year, tapos na itong loan natin at hihingi pa nga kayo ng extension," Binay told DOTr officials.

DOTr Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor said the project, funded through an Official Development Assistance loan from the World Bank, was shelved in 2017 as some parts were found to be not feasible.

The project was revived in 2018 for review and restructuring.

"We are to launch ang procurement by this quarter and ang target po natin, by February construction will start," Pastor said.

DOTr Undersecretary Garry De Guzman also clarified that the amount spent by the government did not reach P7 billion, as claimed by the senator.

"Wala pa pong nagagastos na ganoon kalaki kasi hindi pa nga po nasisimulan 'yan. We will submit po 'yung detailed expenditure sa project pero di po 'yan aabot sa P7 billion," he said. "Yung na-allocate ng past years nare-revert lang po iyon."

De Guzman, nonetheless, agreed with the comments of senators that the Philippines is still obliged to pay "commitment fees" as part of the ODA deal despite the fact that there was no significant progress in the project.

Asked how much is earmarked for the Cebu bus rapid transit project for 2021, Pastor said the DOTr is still asking the Department of Budget and Management to consider its request for P1.3 billion.

"Kahit po walang budget 'yung Cebu BRT, being backed by a foreign loan from World Bank, pwede kami mag-request sa unprogrammed fund sa DBM as the need arises," De Guzman added.

DOTr officials also said the World Bank is amenable to extending the term of the loan beyond 2021 but Binay thinks the project needs to be revisited.

"I think we should seriously rethink this project because utang nga ito at it's been five years, walang nangyayari doon sa proyekto," she said.—LDF, GMA News