Department of Transportation(DOTr)

Greetings with love and great well-being!

I am Bernadette A. Arcipe, a fourth-year Political Science student-researcher from the University of San Carlos, majoring in Law and Policy Studies. I am currently conducting a research study entitled "Analysis of Cost Overruns and policy Implementation of Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project."

This, I am respectfully and kindly request digital copies of the Financial Documents of CBRT project, specifically Package 1 of the project. I believe that these documents would be highly valuable to my research.

To support the obectives of my research, I am particularly interested in obtaining the following.:

1. Approved Budget for the Contract (Package 1)
2. Winning Bid/Contract Agreement (Package 1)
3. Disbursement or Payment Summary (All document If available related to Package 1)

I am interested in obtaining these documents; however, if those documents are no available or not publicly discloseable. I would gladly accept other financial documents that your good office can provide that are related to the CBRT project. Furthermore, I assure you that any documents provided will be handled with utmost confidentiality and will be used strictly for academic and research purposes only.

Hoping for you kind consideration. I look forward to your favorable response. Thank you vert much for you kind assistance.

Sincerely,

Bernadette A. Arcipe

Dear eFOI user, 
Thank you for your request October 14, 2025 today, made under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.
We have received your request on Financial Documents of Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project, October 14, 2025. We will respond and process your request on or before Nov. 4, 2025, in compliance with the Executive Order’s implementing rules and regulations.
Should you have any questions regarding this request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal for request with ticket number #DOTr-955956975566.
Further, please be advised that this is a public site, and any information shared in this conversation thread will be visible to the public. Therefore, we kindly request that you refrain from disclosing any sensitive personal information or data in this thread.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
FOI Officer
Department of Transportation 

Dear eFOI user, 
About my letter dated [date], at [time], regarding your request made under Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016 on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch; specifically, your request on [title of request].
To effectively address your request, we kindly request additional information from you. This will enable us to provide you with the best possible service. 
To respond to the request with ticket number #DOTr-955956975566, please use the reply function located on the eFOI portal at https://savethedatev211152018-dot-efoi-ph.appspot.com/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyIAsSB0NvbnRlbnQiE0ZPSVBNTy01OTM3NzM2Njg1NjcM. 
You will have 60 calendar days from the time of response to provide the requested information. We kindly request that you respond as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
John Christopher Sto Domingo
FOI Officer 
Department of Transportation

Greetings with love and great well-being!

The Specific Objective No.1 of my study seeks to determine whether cost overruns occurred in CBRT Package 1 by comparing the initial contract amount with the actual budget spent. Specifically, it aims to:

1. What is the approximate amount spent for CBRT Package 1 in comparison to what was initially budgeted for that Package?
       a. What is the nature of the cost overrun of the CBRT project?

Considering that my study involves comparing the initial budget with the actual expenditures, it is essential to obtain access to the original bidding contract. This document allows for a meaningful comparison with the revised bidding contract, thereby providing a clear and evidence-based foundation for analyzing any cost variations that may have occurred during project implementation. Access to these records will greatly strengthen the accuracy, validity, and credibility of the study's findings.

I fully understand the confidentiality of certain project documents. Any section or non-disclosable data may be redacted as necessary.

For reference, I have sent my Thesis Paper (Chapters 1 and 3) via email, which includes the Statement of the Problem, Ethical Considerations, and Data Management Plan.

The Ethical Considerations and Data Management Plan sections ensure that all data collected will be handled with strict confidentiality and accessed solely by the researcher, in accordance with ethical research standards.

I fully understand that the office is currently attending to many important matters. However, I sincerely and respectfully ask for your kind consideration regarding this matter. I also want to express my apologies for any inconvenience my request may cause, and I truly appreciate your time, understanding, and support.

Respectfully,

Bernadette A. Arcipe
BA POS LPS - 4
Department of Political Science
School of Law and Governance
University of San Carlos

Dear eFOI user,
Mabuhay!
Thank you for utilizing the eFOI portal (www.foi.gov.ph) and exercising your right to information under Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016 on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.
We have received your request on Financial Documents of Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project, dated Oct. 14, 2025.
While our primary objective is to provide information whenever possible, we regret to inform you that the requested information is not available at this Office. Duplicate request.
For additional support, we encourage you to consult the FAQ section of the eFOI site: https://www.foi.gov.ph/help.
Your right to request a review
If you are dissatisfied with our response to your FOI request, you have the option to request an internal review. To initiate this process, kindly submit your written appeal for review addressed to [insert name of Secretary and postal/e-mail address]. Please provide a detailed explanation of your dissatisfaction with our response within 15 calendar days from the date of receiving this response. We will conduct the review and communicate the outcome within 30 calendar days from the receipt of your review request.
Should you remain unsatisfied with the review outcome, you retain the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).
Thank you.
Respectfully,
John Christopher Sto Domingo
FOI Officer
Department of Transportation