"If Cebu doesn't get the much needed quality infrastructure to boost its connectivity and solve its nightmare traffic woes, long term growth prospects might be at risk."
European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Guenter Taus, in an online conversation with The FREEMAN, pointed out that connectivity infrastructure is very vital for Cebu, being an important tourist hub in the country. "Connectivity infrastructure is important for Cebu. The majority of foreign arrivals in the Philippines pass through Cebu (about) 51.2 percent," the business leader asserted. Taus emphasized that Metro Cebu's infrastructure is unable to service growing population, noting the absence of a quality mass transport system looks to threaten future growth. "The absence of an integrated metropolitan-wide, high capacity form of public transport threatens long term growth," he warned. The government has been urged to ramp up efforts to improve Cebu's infrastructure now that its airport opens a new passenger terminal, seen to invite more foreign visitors. Taus cited the Metro Cebu Expressway, eyed to start next year, and Cebu Bus Rapid Transit as two of the crucial projects that should improve connectivity in the metropolitan area. BRT's implementation has long been stalled due to political issues. Earlier, construction works already started for the third bridge that will link Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova municipality. The 8.5 kilometer Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEx) is expected to be completed by 2021 Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corp (CCLEC), a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp (MPTC). Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar also earlier said a fourth Mactan-Cebu bridge is now on the pipeline, which is yet subject for a feasibility study by the JICA. He was confident the project could be finished before 2022. Recently, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said an Integrated Transportation System will be implemented in Cebu to synchronize its various transport solutions to address its worsening traffic congestion A Singaporean-Chinese and Filipino consortium has submitted a proposal to construct a US$3 billion LRT system with a subway component in Cebu City, an above ground component from Talisay to Carcar and from Mandaue to Danao, with an airport line from Mandaue to Mactan Airport.
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