Cebu real estate boom might be halted if traffic woes not addressed – expert

FILE PHOTO: Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways hope a new expressway will ease Metro Cebu’s traffic jams. —JUNJIE MENDOZA / CEBU DAILY NEWS

CEBU CITY — An expert warned that the boom in real estate in Cebu might be disrupted if the government does not do anything about the rising traffic congestion, especially in urban areas.

“The boom is already there. But it could be halted or stopped because of traffic,” Filipino Homes Founder and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Leuterio said during an interview with reporters in Cebu City on Saturday, December 10.

He called on the local government to be “proactive” in addressing this concern.

“Why not call all the developers and congregate all the projects and maybe align with some of the roads or open some roads,” said Leuterio, who is also the president of the A Better Real Estate Philippines (ABREP) and part of the advisory group of the Accredited Real Estate Salespersons in the Philippines (ACRES).

Road infrastructure, he added, should be integrated with the economic activities of the developers.

Aside from new roads, Leuterio said that Metro Cebu needs more mass transportation as soon as possible.

“We need that (mass transportation system) badly to eliminate cars,” Leuterio said.

The real estate industry, however, is hopeful for the completion of the Metro Cebu Expressway that was started during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte. The 56.9 kilometer road network will serve as alternative access via a “backbone highway” connecting Danao City in the North and the City of Naga in the south of the island.

“Some 30 to 40 percent volume of cars will be decongested with the Metro Cebu Expressway,” Leuterio said.

At present, Leuterio said property developments are spreading out as far as Minglanilla and Carcar City in the south as well as Liloan, Consolacion, and Danao City in the northern portion of Metro Cebu.

But Cebu City has remained number one in condominium developments.

“City condo is still the most sought after in Cebu (by clients),” Leuterio said.

Traffic congestion in the urban Metro Cebu area has been regularly a complaint by most motorists being stalled an hour or two especially during rush hours.

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