The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is ready to implement several major infrastructure projects in Cebu as part of the Philippine administration’s mandate to decongest major thoroughfares and implement an integrated seamless transport system in the country, according to Public Works Secretary Mark Villar.
“Among the big-ticket projects to be implemented include the highly anticipated 74- kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway Project, which will reduce travel from Naga City to Danao City from three hours to one hour and 25 minutes,” Villar said in a statement.
“We have already completed the feasibility study of the P50-billion Metro Cebu Expressway Project. It will be implemented in three segments,” he added.
The Cebu Expressway Project is part of the administration’s infrastructure program dubbed as Build, Build, Build, which aims to increase the productive capacity of the economy and create jobs by accelerating the building of massive infrastructure facilities.
According to the International Monetary Fund, a sustained increase in public infrastructure spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) would add a total of 5% to 6% to GDP after 15 years.
Also expected to decongest traffic congestion in Cebu City is the planned construction of the four-lane Guadalupe-Lahug By-Pass Road with a total length of 1.61 kilometers.
“The project with an estimated cost of P500 million will shorten travel time from Barangay Guadalupe to Barangay Lahug by 50%, from one hour to only 30 minutes,” Villar said.
“In addition, a feasibility study is now ongoing for the construction of the Mandaue City-Consolacion-Liloan Bypass Road which is expected to bring down travel time from Cebu City to the Municipality of Liloan by 50%,” Villar added.
