Cebu Provincial Administrator Ace Durano announced on Monday, April 27, 2026, that Governor Pamela Baricuatro fully supports the Provincial Board committee report opposing the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station in front of the Provincial Capitol.
According to Durano, the revised design presented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) remains unclear, especially regarding whether it will obstruct the view of the Capitol from Fuente Osmeña Circle. He stated that the governor will formally request the DOTr to present an electronic or mock-up version of the revised design to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) for a more thorough assessment of its visual impact.
The proposed Capitol Station is part of the Cebu BRT project, a major transportation system aimed at improving mobility in Cebu City. Earlier, the NHCP expressed concerns that the station, originally designed to be located in the middle of Osmeña Boulevard, could block the view of the Capitol, which is declared a National Historical Landmark.
In response, the DOTr revised the station design. The height was reduced from 4.7 meters to 3.0 meters, and the width was decreased from 6.5 meters to 3.7 meters. The agency explained that a median alignment is necessary for faster operations and warned that relocating the station to the roadside would affect service quality and jeopardize funding from the World Bank.
Despite these changes, Durano said provincial officials remain uncertain whether the adjustments are sufficient. He added that presenting a visual simulation or scaled model to the NHCP would help determine if the revised design still obstructs the line of sight to the Capitol, especially from key viewpoints.
The Provincial Board has already approved the committee report recommending that the provincial government oppose the station's location due to concerns over its impact on the Capitol's historical and architectural significance.
