CBRT showdown: Tomas’ resignation hangs on special session today

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The long-running battle over the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project reaches a critical turning point on Friday as the City Council convenes a special session that could determine not only the future of the project’s proposed South Road Properties (SRP) expansion but also Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s political future.

Osmeña has vowed to resign as vice mayor if the council endorses the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) CBRT realignment into the SRP, arguing that the shift abandons the project’s original purpose of serving ordinary commuters traveling between Bulacao and Talamban.

READ: If Tomas Osmeña quits over CBRT row, Winston Pepito will be VM

The special session, set at 9 a.m., will bring DOTr officials before the council to justify the adjustments before councilors decide whether Cebu City should formally reject the revised alignment.

City should reject project, Osmeña says

The special session follows Tuesday’s heated council debate, where Osmeña pushed to strengthen a proposed resolution by having Cebu City itself reject the revised alignment instead of merely asking the DOTr to reconsider it.

READ: Tomas Osmeña wants Cebu City to reject BRT realignment outright

“We’re not asking the DOTr to reject. We are doing the rejecting,” Osmeña told fellow councilors.

He argued that asking the national agency to reject its own proposal would leave it free to proceed with the project despite the city’s objections.

“If the city disapproves of the alignment, DOTr cannot override it,” he said.

Osmeña has maintained that Cebu City, not the national government, holds the authority to approve or reject changes affecting the project within its jurisdiction.

READ: Pepito pushes SRP BRT, says Cebu can pursue growth and mobility

He also insisted that the original Bulacao-to-Talamban corridor should remain the project’s priority because planners, the public, and international funding partners approved that alignment during the project’s planning stage.

The amended resolution would make the council’s opposition the official position of Cebu City rather than simply appealing to national agencies to restore the original route.

Council divided

The proposal exposed a divide within the City Council.

Majority Floor Leader Councilor Dave Tumulak argued that the council had already expressed its position through an earlier resolution urging the Office of the President and the World Bank to review the realignment and restore the original corridor.

He questioned the need for another resolution and suggested allowing the mayor and the DOTr to address the issue.

READ: Gov’t ramps up infrastructure spending to revive economy, Palace says

Osmeña disagreed, saying the earlier resolution merely requested action from national agencies, while his proposal would establish Cebu City’s own official position.

Councilor Sisinio Andales supported Osmeña’s interpretation, saying the proposed resolution directly expresses the city’s stand instead of merely asking another agency to act.

Presiding Officer Pro Tempore Philip Zafra also observed that Osmeña’s amendment no longer seeks reconsideration but expressly rejects the revised alignment.

Pepito backs both routes

Transportation Committee Chairman Councilor Winston Pepito took a different position, saying Cebu City should not choose between improving public transportation and expanding economic opportunities.

Pepito said he continued to support completing the original Bulacao-to-Talamban corridor but believed the city should simultaneously pursue the proposed SRP extension.

“I disagree with the idea that the SRP should not be included at all,” Pepito said in an interview.

“Sa akoa nga bahin, against ko ana nga dili gyud maapil ang SRP. Galibog ko nganong dili man gyud apilon ang SRP nga usa man na sa gibaligya, unya dili nimo apilon sa planning at least man lang to have a better mass transport didto nga dapita?,” he said.

(For my part, I oppose excluding the SRP altogether. I don’t understand why it shouldn’t be included, since it is one of the areas we have promoted. At the very least, it should be part of the planning so it can have a better mass transportation system.)

Pepito argued that extending the CBRT into the SRP would complement, not replace, the original alignment while serving one of Cebu City’s fastest-growing commercial districts.

He said thousands of workers, residents, and visitors would benefit from reliable mass transportation serving the area.

“Sayangan ko sa development kay thousands of workers makagamit ana, niya of course atong mga constituents nga muadto didto sa SRP kay nahimo na baya na siyang tourist district, nahimong landmark na sa Cebu City. Dako kaayo’g impact if naay linya didto,” he said.

(It would be a wasted opportunity because thousands of workers could use it. Our constituents who go to the SRP would also benefit because it has already become a tourist district and a landmark in Cebu City. It would have a huge impact if a BRT line served the area.)

Pepito also rejected claims that the extension primarily benefited large commercial establishments.

“Wala na gi-design for SM ug Ayala, but gi-design na for working Cebuanos.” (It was not designed for SM and Ayala alone. It was designed for working Cebuanos.)

‘Why wait?’

Pepito also questioned why the city should postpone the SRP extension until the original corridor reaches completion.

“Ang ganahan nila humanon usa ang Bulacao-Talamban before SRP. Ang question nako, ngano paabuton pa nato if 20 years pa ni mahuman nga ang SRP ready naman?,” he said.

(They want to finish the Bulacao-Talamban route first before the SRP. My question is, why should we wait if that could take 20 years when the SRP is already ready?)

He pointed out that the northern corridor still faces major right-of-way acquisition, demolition, road widening, and construction challenges that could delay completion for years.

“Pwede na siya ma-implement kaysa mag-wait pa ta mahuman ang Bulacao-Talamban. It’s gonna take decades, maybe. You have a lot of acquisition, demolition, widening, construction—at least a decade. Nganong dili pa man himuon ang SRP karon? Pwede man unta ang duha?,” he said.

(The SRP line can already be implemented instead of waiting for the Bulacao-Talamban route to finish. It could take decades because of land acquisition, demolition, road widening and construction—at least a decade. Why not build the SRP line now? We can pursue both.)

Pepito said Cebu City risks missing economic opportunities if it continues promoting the SRP as its premier business district without investing in efficient public transportation.

“Sayang ang opportunity nga naa tay nindot nga gi-promote nga business hub sa Cebu City unya dili nato butangan og tarong nga transport system. Kung naa nay mass transport system diha, dili lang Ayala ug SM ang makabenepisyo. Daghan man negosyo ug developments diha, ug mas ganahan pa gyud ang investors kung naa nay tarong nga mass transport,” he said.

(It would be a wasted opportunity if we keep promoting it as Cebu City’s business hub without providing a proper transportation system. If there is mass transportation there, not only Ayala and SM will benefit. There are many businesses and developments in the area, and investors will become even more interested if there is reliable public transportation.)

Councilor Mikel Rama echoed a similar position during Tuesday’s session, saying the city should not frame the issue as a choice between serving commuters and supporting economic growth because both objectives can move forward simultaneously.

High-stakes session

Instead of voting immediately on Osmeña’s proposal, the council agreed to convene Friday’s special session to hear directly from the DOTr before taking any action.

The meeting comes days after councilors withdrew a committee report that sought further evaluation of the DOTr’s request to develop additional CBRT infrastructure within the SRP after Osmeña strongly opposed the proposal.

The DOTr, however, seeks the city’s approval for additional CBRT infrastructure inside the SRP as it works to complete key project components before funding deadlines expire.

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