DOTC taps Korean firm for Cebu bus rapid transit project

MANILA, Philippines – South Korea-based Kunhwa Engineering & Consulting bagged the detailed engineering design and construction supervision contract for the Cebu City bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) spokesperson Michael Arthur Sagcal said Tuesday, April 21, that the  World Bank is expected to shoulder $2.9 million of the total contract price, while the counterpart fund of up to P67.8 million ($1.53 million) will come from the Philippine government.

The first phase of the project would involve detailed engineering design and preparation of bidding documents for the engineering, structural, civil, architectural, electrical, and mechanical design.

The second phase covers the supervision of the transit way and the supporting infrastructure during the construction.

In cooperation with the Cebu City government, the DOTC will develop and construct the country’s first-ever bus rapid transit system in the province, patterned after those in in Bogota, Columbia; Curtilba, Brazil; Guangzhou, China; and Seoul in South Korea.

With around 176 buses, the Cebu bus rapid transit would run through dedicated and exclusive bus ways from Bulacao to Talamban, Cebu, with a link to Cebu’s South Road Property. The buses would also traverse Cebu City’s business districts, residential areas, shopping centers, and key tourist sites.

It would have 33 stations along the corridor, with buses arriving at each station every two to 5 minutes.

The system would also serve an estimated 330,000 passengers per day when it starts operations in 2015.  

The Cebu bus rapid transit system is part of the Aquino administration’s aim of providing convenient, affordable, reliable, efficient, and safe transport system in the country. – Rappler.com

 $1 = P44.22