Cebu’s Newest Landmark, CCLEX Finally Inaugurated

Cebu’s newest landmark, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), finally held its inauguration on April 27, 2022.

President Rodrigo Duterte graced the inauguration of the 8.9 km cable-stayed bridge.

“I thank God for giving me the life, napag-ground break ko nitong bridge na ito ako ang nag-inauguarate ngayon,” Duterte said.

Duterte congratulated Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC), the Cebu City government, and the local government of Cordova for the completion of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette.

“Your support to this administration’s goal to push regional development to provide a comfortable life for every Filipino and realize our vision of a strongly connected nation is truly commendable,” Duterte added.

Duterte also said that CCLEX will help solve the traffic problems in Metro Cebu.

“This state-of-the-art infrastructure will provide the solution to the perennial traffic issue in Metro Cebu,” Duterte said.

Duterte also hopes that CCLEX may bring more economic growth to Cebu and the rest of the Visayas.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) Chairman Manuel Pangilinan in his opening speech talked about the start of the construction of CCLEX.

Pangilinan said that the initial budget for the bridge was 27 billion but increased to 33 billion after the construction of the CCLEX.

Pangilinan also thanked the local governments of Cebu City and Cordova for their support of this public-private project.

“We are honored and humbled to be partners with the cities of Cebu and Cordova. We hope that this will serve as a template for future infrastructure ventures conducted at the LGU level,” Pangilinan said.

Although the CCLEX was inaugurated, CCLEX’s Facebook page announced that the public use of the bridge will be announced soon.

Also present at the event were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdia, DPWH Acting Secretary Roger Mercado, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Congresswoman Emmarie Ouano-Dizon, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, and Cordova Mayor Mary Therese Cho. (ASC)