The World Bank, the primary financial backer for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, has delivered a stark assessment of the initiative's progress. In a report released on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, the international funding agency rated the project's implementation as "unsatisfactory." The evaluation points to significant delays, unmet objectives, and a high overall risk level for this major infrastructure endeavor in Cebu City.
Key Findings from the World Bank Report
The critical review was detailed in the latest Implementation Status and Results Report published on the World Bank's official website. It concludes that progress toward the CBRT's development goals and its overall implementation pace are both unsatisfactory. The project's risk rating remains classified as "high." The CBRT was envisioned to transform urban transport along a vital Cebu City corridor by boosting service quality, safety, and environmental efficiency, but these benefits have yet to materialize.
Substantial Delays in Civil Works
A major point of concern is the slow pace of construction. Civil Works Package 1, covering 2.38 kilometers from the Cebu South Bus Terminal to the Capitol building, is now substantially complete except for the Capitol station itself. However, this partial completion came after more than two years of work. Groundbreaking began in early 2023 with an original target for finishing in December of that same year.
A "Partial Taking Over Certificate" has been issued, indicating official acceptance of part of the work while construction continues. Despite this, the report warns that the bulk of the remaining infrastructure—including busways and stations under Packages 2 and 3—cannot be finished within the remaining project timeline. Other critical components like site acquisition, resettlement, and establishing operational frameworks are also behind schedule.
Unmet Targets and Financial Snapshot
The delays have direct consequences on the project's promised outcomes. As of late 2025, average daily passenger ridership on the CBRT trunk line remains at zero. Key targets for reducing travel time and cutting emissions have not been achieved. A planned pilot test for Package 1, scheduled for September 2025, has not begun.
Physically, the project has delivered modest outputs: approximately 2.38 kilometers of bus lanes and about 100,000 square meters of enhanced public space, both figures falling short of planned targets. Financially, only about 35 percent of the original $116 million loan has been disbursed. The project's closing date has been extended multiple times and is now set for September 30, 2026.
The World Bank's unsatisfactory rating places significant pressure on project implementers to address the identified bottlenecks. With the clock ticking toward the 2026 deadline and a substantial portion of the loan still unused, the future pace and efficacy of the CBRT's construction will be crucial for Cebu City's long-awaited transport upgrade.
