Study for 4th Cebu-Mactan bridge on hold
CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its foreign partner have put on hold the detailed engineering design (DED) study for the fourth Cebu-Mactan Bridge pending the conduct of an ocular inspection and a public consultation about the project.
The decision was made after operators of business establishments affected by the P76.41-billion project said they were surprised that the DED was being conducted without site inspection or consultation.
Jiichi Ohashi, team leader of Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) consulting firm Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd., admitted during an online meeting with stakeholders on Sept. 10 that they started with the DED study in December 2020.
Efrain Pelaez, Jr., operator of Mactan Marina Mall in Lapu-Lapu City, complained that the DPWH and Jica proceeded with the DED study even after their representatives promised to do an ocular inspection at the alternative sites of the bridge’s landings.
Many businessmen on Mactan Island have opposed the fourth bridge alignment that was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority.
Based on the approved Option 1, the fourth bridge will connect the mainland Mandaue City, near Cansaga Bay Bridge, to Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island, near Marina Mall.
The fourth bridge project, funded by a 119.225-billion-yen loan (about P52 billion) from Jica, has two components: a four-lane 3.3-kilometer bridge with an elevated four-lane viaduct and a four-lane 4.9-km coastal road with an elevated viaduct.
Pelaez’s group has proposed to locate the bridge landing on Mactan Island at a vacant lot away from Marina Mall and the other end in the village of Umapad in Mandaue City.
