Mandaue City Asks DPWH 7 to Repair First Mactan Bridge, Busy Road After Sinulog, 51st IEC

The Mandaue City government has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 to put on hold the repair of the first Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and the upgrading of a busy road until the Sinulog festivities and the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in January are over.

Mandaue City Planning and Development Officer Florentino Nimor Jr. said heavy traffic is already expected with thousands of pilgrims arriving for the Sinulog Festival and the IEC, an international event.

The Sinulog Festival in Cebu City, which is held every third Sunday of January, attracts hundreds of thousands of both local and foreign tourists.

The Sinulog Grand Parade is preceded by a series of religious and cultural activities, including the Grand Procession of the Holy Image of the Senor Sto. Nino de Cebu.

The IEC is expected to gather 8,000 delegates from around the world from Jan. 24 to 31.

The DPWH said it is spending PHP129.6 million to repair the bridge and PHP50 million to upgrade A. Soriano St. in Mandaue City.

The bridge repair is expected to be completed in 11 months while the road upgrading project is expected to be finished in 10 months.

Marie Mignon Nillama, DPWH 7 public information officer, said the agency and the contractors it hired for the projects will wait for a go-signal from Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Nillama said the contractor for the road upgrading project has assured it will shorten the curing period for the cemented road so the project can be completed earlier than 10 months.

Nimor also said that the repair work on the bridge can also be shortened but it will involve more equipment and manpower. (PNA) LAP/EB/RSM