Cebu’s convergence road project to boost tourism

MANILA, Philippines – Major road projects under the tourism (DOT) and public works (DPWH) departments are expected to buoy up more tourist arrivals in Cebu.

In his speech at the project briefing of Cebu’s infrastructure projects, President Benigno Aquino III said projects such as the Mactan Circumferential Road, Serging Osmeña Boulevard Port Corridor, and Medellin-Daanbantayan Road are part of the DOT-DPWH Tourism Convergence Road Project, which aims to provide convenience for tourists to seamlessly travel in Cebu’s scenic destinations.

The President was in Cebu August 24 to inspect the progress of these projects.

The 28.18-kilometer (km) Mactan Circumferential Road aims to provide easy access from the Mactan International Airport to the various tourist destinations, resorts, and hotels on Mactan island.

Expected to be completed in 2016, the road will reduce travel time between Cebu City to Mactan from 1:30 hours to one hour and will benefit more than 21,000 travelers per day.

Aquino also inspected the rehabilitation of the Serging Osmeña Boulevard Port Corridor in Cebu City, which was completed on June 25 this year. The project is a major thoroughfare for daily commuters travelling to and from the city.

In his speech, Aquino also mentioned the ongoing rehabilitation of the 16.33-km Medellin-Daanbantayan Road, which aims to provide easy access to local vacationers and foreign tourists. It is expected to reduce the 3-hour travel time from the northernmost town of Daanbantayan to Cebu City by half an hour.

The President also noted the budget increase for DPWH for its projects in Cebu.

From P2 billion ($46.86 million) in 2010, the budget for Cebu increased to P7 billion ($150.01 million) this year. Another P2 billion ($46.86 million) will be added to the allocated budget for the province, Aquino said.

Singson said P23 billion ($492.87 million) of the P43-billion ($921.45 million) total budget of the DPWH from 2010 to 2015 went to Cebu province. – Rappler.com