First Balfour Inc., the construction arm of the Lopez Group, is allocating at least ₱3.2 billion to develop a bus rapid transit (BRT) system aimed at modernizing commuting and easing traffic congestion in Iloilo City.
The company is currently negotiating its unsolicited proposal with the local government to build the high-capacity bus system (HCBS) after the project cleared the city’s detailed evaluation stage.
According to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, the negotiation stage is projected to conclude by the first week of January.
Operating under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, the HCBS will feature an all-electric bus fleet covering three transport corridors. The system will integrate operations monitoring, vehicle performance management, scheduling, and customer information features.
Additionally, the electric fleet may be complemented by tech-equipped modern public utility jeepneys (PUJs) to bolster service reliability.
Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas emphasized that the initiative will prioritize accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs). She also noted that First Balfour is open to extending weekday operating hours to accommodate night-shift workers.
Treñas recently met with the Iloilo City PPP Office to evaluate passenger estimates and review transport financing to guide the project’s next phases.
The initiative aligns with broader national transport plans. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor previously highlighted Iloilo City alongside Bataan and Pangasinan as key locations for future BRT developments.
“These projects are intended to deliver reliable, high-capacity public transport tailored to the needs of each area while strengthening integration with existing transport networks,” Pastor said.
Pastor also noted that the DOTr is evaluating potential BRT projects across three additional corridors in Metro Manila to help decongest major thoroughfares.