Amid traffic chaos in channel, Cebu officials propose long-term solutions

THE traffic nightmare brought by the closure of the old Mactan Bridge for repairs last Monday has revived discussions to have long-term solution to the problem of crossing the busy Mactan Channel.

Cebu 1st district Rep. Eduardo Gullas yesterday said time has come to seriously consider building a third structure that will connect mainland Cebu to Mactan Island which hosts the international airport, two economic zones and key tourism facilities.

Cebu Mayor Michael Rama expressed concern, the ongoing repair of the old bridge and the upcoming repair of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge will have reprecussions on the economy of Cebu City.

Already, he said, participants of the PAL Gold Tournament that opened yesterday at the Cebu Country Club already experienced the effect of hampered transportation from the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

What used to be a 30-minute ride from the Mactan Cebu International Airport, Rama said became a snail-paced 2-hour ride.

The mayor also expressed concern the problem will have an effect on Cebu City’s hosting of the Asia Pacific Business Conference to be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City on March 14 and 15. Over 500 foreign and local investors and businessmen are slated to attend this important conference organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

For Gullas, addressing the problem is an urgent necessity. He said he doesn’t mind if it involves constructing a 3rd bridge or an underwater tunnel across the Mactan Channel.

“That is up to technical experts to determine which structure – an underwater tunnel or a third bridge – would best address Cebu’s connectivity needs,” Gullas told the media in his University of Visayas office yesterday.

“Kung cost ang atong tan-awon dili kaayo na daku ug deperensya,” he added.

(If we look at the cost, the difference would not be that big.)

In the meantime, Rama had asked that the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) be asked to also help, especially in designating additional docking area of ferry boats serving the Cebu and Mandaue cities on one side and Lapu Lapu City on the other.

Under the present set up, ferries plying routes from Muelle Osmena in Lapu Lapu City to Pier 3 in Cebu City are only allowed to dock at the port area one at a time.

Rama said that the accommodation should be expanded to at least two ferry boats at a time to hasten the movement of passengers.

The mayor said that he may also include this problem in the agenda of the Regional Development Council which he chairs.

Rama is also asking President Benigno Aquino III, DPWH SecretaryRogelio Singon, DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas III and DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to look into the matter.

But Gullas said that while DPWH and other national government agencies does its work, local officials should also start to exploring the possibility of putting up a third bridge or an underwater tunnel to connect mainland Cebu to Mactan Island.

He said that having a new access will also complement plans to establish a harbor for bigger ships in the south, from Talisay City to Naga City.