The Department of Transportation on Monday disclosed that the full operations of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit is encountering delays and may get the greenlight by 2027.

In an interview during the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry forum, DoTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said that they are still working on the detailed engineering design for Phase 2 of the transport project.

However, he stressed that the project's partial operations timetable for this quarter appears to be on track and involves about three kilometers of the overall line — from Escario Street, Cebu Capitol-Osmeña Boulevard-Cebu South Bus Terminal along N. Bacalso Avenue.

"You may be familiar with EDSA Busway. We are replicating this concept of dedicated lanes for public buses in Cebu and Davao. We call it Bus Rapid Transit or BRT," Bautista said.

The CBRT is a $228.5-million public transport system approved in 2014 and the loan package was extended by the Korean Export-Import bank.

"Phase 1 is short — a three-kilometer BRT. It is still ongoing. In fact, I was just speaking with the contractor and there was no problem. Hopefully it is on time," Bautista said.

The CBRT is a 13.8-kilometer line with 17 stations, one terminal and one depot from South Road Properties in south Cebu City to Talamban in north of the city.

CBRT manager Engr. Norvin Ymbong said the partial operation can still be done in the first quarter of 2024, despite the uncertain fate of two skywalks along Osmeña Boulevard that affected the project's civil works.

"I believe the partial operation can still be in the first quarter of next year though probably there will be minor works on the sidewalks," Ymbong said.

To recall, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in February this year led the groundbreaking of CBRT. The project was initially scheduled for full operations by the second quarter of 2025 with partial operations.

Once completed, the Cebu BRT system is expected to serve up to 160,000 passengers a day.