A FOUR-PERSON team from a South Korean company are in Cebu to conduct a detailed study on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
Cebu BRT chief Rafael Yap said a team from Kunhwa Engineering and Consulting Ltd. has been in Cebu since May 27 to start the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) study for the P10-billion project.
“They started with a survey of the BRT route, collected data, inspected the potential station locations and consulted with transport agencies, the local government unit and other stakeholders,” Yap said.
He said the firm’s consultants will also visit Cebu from time to time during the eight-month study on the DED design.
Since Kunhwa will supervise construction of the project, they will stay for another two years after the DED’s completion, Yap said.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded to Kunhwa the contract to conduct the study and supervision of the project.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama met with Kunhwa representatives last Tuesday.
He said he wants updates from the Korean firm on the development of the project.
“This is not an ordinary project. This is a gargantuan project. This is not a national project alone. It is going to be Cebu City that will be affected,” Rama told reporters yesterday.
The BRT project is funded by World Bank and involves the construction of 33 bus stations from barangay Bulacao to barangay Talamban. It is expected to be operational by 2018.
Yap said Kunhwa will give updates especially on major activities. He said all reports will go through the BRT’s Technical Working Group (TWG) who will then endorse them to the mayor and to the City Council for approval.
He said they wrote Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella requesting the City Council to prioritize the approval of reports and other concerns relating to the BRT project.
The reports cover design concepts, updating and finalization of the environmental management plan, resettlement action plan, contract documentation and drawings, final approved design and capacity development report.