Why Tomas now rejects CBRT’s SRP rollout plan

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña on Monday defended his decision to oppose the South Road Properties (SRP) component of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT).

He said his 2016 signature on a memorandum of agreement (MOA) did not mean he supported what he now describes as the project’s implementation shift away from its original commuter corridor.

Responding to criticism from proponents of the SRP segment, Osmeña said he approved the 2016 agreement because it retained the original Bulacao-to-Talamban route while adding the SRP.

However, he argued that implementation over the years has prioritized the SRP at the expense of the city’s main commuter routes.

“I signed it because if they wanted to include the SRP, that was fine with me. If they wanted to include Bulacao, that was also fine with me. My objective has always been Banilad-Talamban,” Osmeña said in an interview.

“But during the implementation, they’re no longer doing that. It’s only Ayala and SM that benefit from this.”

READ: Pepito: ‘Political drama’ avoided through CBRT vote abstention

His remarks came days after Transportation Committee Chairman Councilor Winston Pepito questioned why Osmeña opposed the SRP component after signing the 2016 MOA that already included it.

Pepito earlier argued that the SRP formed part of the CBRT’s approved alignment as early as 2014 and accused Osmeña of creating a false narrative that the project had undergone a “realignment.”

‘Issue is implementation’

Osmeña clarified that his objection does not target the inclusion of the SRP itself but the sequence of implementation.

According to the vice mayor, government spending and right-of-way acquisition have concentrated almost entirely on the Ayala-SM Seaside corridor, while little progress has taken place along the Bulacao and Talamban sections, which he said serve the city’s largest commuting population.

“The way it looks, they’re not interested in Bulacao and Talamban,” he said. “They’re saying everything is included, but when you see where the money goes, nothing goes to Talamban or Pardo.”

READ: CBRT SRP realignment bucked after heated City Council debate

Osmeña said city officials have monitored the disbursement of right-of-way funds coursed through the Cebu City Government and claimed that most acquisitions have focused on the SRP side.

He also cited reports from council members representing Talamban that property owners there have yet to receive acquisition offers.

Original corridor remains priority

Osmeña maintained that the Bulacao-to-Talamban corridor remains the backbone of the CBRT because it serves the city’s highest commuter demand.

He argued that diverting early implementation to the SRP forces commuters from southern Cebu City to transfer to other modes of transport instead of receiving direct BRT service.

“They told us people from Bulacao can ride jeepneys to SM Seaside and take the BRT from there. I’m not going to buy that,” he said.

Throughout last week’s special session, Osmeña urged the City Council to reject what he described as the SRP-first implementation strategy and instead prioritize completion of the original corridor.

The council later adopted his resolution rejecting the SRP component by a vote of seven in favor, two against, and four abstentions.

Rebuts Pepito’s criticism

Pepito earlier explained that he abstained from the vote because he believed the debate had turned into “political drama” after discovering that Osmeña himself had signed the 2016 MOA covering the SRP.

He argued that the SRP had always formed part of the project and that no actual “realignment” had occurred.

Osmeña rejected that interpretation, insisting the controversy centers on implementation rather than the wording of earlier agreements.

“They can include anything they want on paper,” he said. “But when you look at where the checks are going, that’s where you see the real priorities.”

He added that his experience with the project convinced him that national agencies had shifted their focus away from the original commuter corridor.

“I’ve been in politics long enough that these people cannot be trusted. Money talks at a different level,” he said.

Critique of SRP rollout’s supporters

Osmeña also took aim at councilors supporting the SRP component, including Pepito, accusing them of siding with large developers instead of ordinary commuters.

“Winston Pepito is defending the rich,” Osmeña said. “They want to help Monterrazas, SM, Ayala and Megawide. No one is speaking up for the poor. No one is speaking up for the vendors.”

Pepito, however, has consistently argued that Cebu City does not need to choose between the original Bulacao-to-Talamban corridor and the SRP extension.

He has maintained that both can proceed simultaneously, noting that the SRP section faces fewer right-of-way obstacles and could immediately serve thousands of workers, residents, businesses, and visitors while the city resolves property acquisition issues along the Bulacao corridor.

The Department of Transportation has likewise maintained that the original Bulacao-to-Talamban corridor remains part of the Neda-approved CBRT project and that the SRP segment merely expanded—not replaced—the original alignment.

However, the agency warned that the council’s rejection effectively removes the SRP component from future CBRT implementation while allowing the rest of the project to proceed.

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