Group Seeks Inclusion of PHP26-B Cebu Expressway in President’s Emergency Powers

A group has sought the inclusion in President Rodrigo Duterte’s emergency powers the implementation of the proposed PHP26-billion Cebu expressway that will go from Carcar City in the south to Danao City in the north.

Engr. Fortunato Sanchez, subcommittee chairman on infrastructure and utilities of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board-Research, Program and Organizational Development (MCDCB-RPOD), said the project could be implemented if the President will be given emergency powers.

If the proposed Traffic Crisis Act of 2016 is passed, the PHP26-billion Carcar-Danao circumferential road may be implemented to help solve the traffic problem in Metro Cebu, Sanchez said.

But Sanchez said that since the proposed project is still in the survey stage, he recommended to the MCDCB to implement major traffic reduction projects worth PHP15 billion that already have existing studies.

Sanchez said the proposed Carcar-Danao circumferential road is still within the conceptual stage with two parties conducting road studies.

Two groups, CEDCO Inc. and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), have already provided studies on its viability.

But Sanchez said that while the construction phase is easy, acquisition of the road-right-of-way (RROW) for the project will be a difficult task.

Sanchez proposed to the MCDCB that while awaiting more updates on the proposed circumferential road, the board could focus on other projects such as the PHP5-billion circumferential road from the City of Naga to Lahug in Cebu City.

Aside from the proposed circumferential road from Naga to Lahug, there are also 14 to 18 leftover projects that were proposed by Metro Cebu Land Use and Transportation Study (MCLUTS), among others.

Sanchez said the PHP15 billion worth of projects, which already have existing studies, can be proposed under the draft Traffic Crisis Act of 2016 or through the General Appropriations Act. (PNA)LAP/EB/EBP