REP. Benhur L. Salimbangon of the Fourth District of Cebu is proposing the construction of a coastal highway in Northern Cebu that would stretch from Mandaue City to Bogo City.
Salimbangon asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct a feasibility study on his proposal.
Right now, Salimbangon said travel time from Metro Cebu to northern Cebu is almost four hours, with crippling traffic in the main thoroughfares of Mandaue City, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Danao City.
“This is very tiring and costly for the motorists,” Salimbangon said.
The coastal highway is meant to absorb the existing volume of traffic in the areas of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Danao City that is expected to increase as developments in these areas are expanding.
“This is also more economical for our motorists going to northern Cebu, as they save fuel and travel time. They will not have to pass through the main thoroughfares, Salimbangon said.
“This highway will put an end to the agony of our motorists who are already tired of heavy traffic and long travel hours,” he added.
Also, the coastal highway will open the other towns in northern Cebu to investors. The area is gaining reputation for the white-sand beaches in Borbon, Sogod and Tabogon.
Salimbangon said this highway is important in achieving his goal of establishing an economic zone in the Fourth District.
“If not addressed, the traffic problem will surely derail the development in this part of Cebu,” he added.
DPWH 7 Regional Director Ador Canlas endorsed the proposal of Salimbangon to Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar, through Maria Catalina Cabral, undersecretary for planning and public-private partnership.
Canlas informed Cabral that the route cited partly represents a segment of the Central Nautical Highway, which the DPWH hereby affirms the necessity for its improvement to address traffic congestion at sections where urbanization activities are heavy, in order to promote accessibility and speedy transport services, which are essential factors to sustain the economic growth that the Central Visayas region is trying to pursue.
Meanwhile, Salimbangon said declaring a special economic and tourism zone in northern Cebu would be included for approval by President Duterte without passing through legislative actions.
Salimbangon added he got the assurance in a meeting with Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Charito B. Plaza last December.
Salimbangon said he was asked by Plaza to bring stakeholders to Manila to visit economic zones in Luzon as initial plans would start before the end of this month.
He added he was told by Plaza of the hundreds of investors who would like to relocate anywhere in the Philippines.
Since his first election as congressman in 2007, Salimbangon has been pushing for the declaration of the Fourth District as a tourist destination and an economic zone in northern Cebu. However, the House bills he has been filing failed to pass through Congress in the previous administration.
Salimbangon said he already talked with Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Undersecretary Michael Lloyd L. Dino, about the problem.
“He said it is now your time, the President is very supportive of your plans,” Salimbangon said.
Last year Salimbangon added the House Committee on Trade and Industry approved his proposal. He also requested President Duterte to endorse it as one of the priority bills in Congress to fast-track the approval process.