While bridge was closed: Ferry boat ride service couldn’t meet demand

CEBU, Philippines - When one lane of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge was closed last Tuesday, commuters wanting a ride to the mainland from Mactan Island and back descended on the Muelle Osmeña to ride ferry boats as alternative means of transport the service could not accommodate them all.

“Murag Sinulog o Christmas season ang linya sa mga pasahero, naabot didto sa simbahan ang linya, nag-ikis-ikis. Normal na karon ang volume sa passengers sa pag-open (balik) sa bridge,” said Police Officer 1 Junrey Terana of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.

Terana belongs to the Tourist Police unit and is assigned at Muelle Osmeña, where the ferry boat service is. The port is located behind the historic Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Regla church.  He said that passengers started to line up at the port’s ticketing area around 5:30 a.m. even though the port opens at 6 a.m. yet.

Due to the heavy traffic and public outcry, the Department of Public Works and Highways reopened one lane of the bridge that it closed supposedly for repairs.

Arthur Aranda, boat captain of Tommy 1 Ferry Boat owned by Metro Ferry Inc., said that for 22 trips, he was able to transport 3,000 passengers from Muelle Osmeña to Pier 3 in Cebu City and back last Tuesday.

He said that before the bridge repair, he usually ferries just 2,000 passengers for 22 trips a day. 

Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System Chief Frank Brazil said traffic situation at the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge as well as the Marcelo Fernan Bridge is not back to normal after DPWH reopened one lane of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge Tuesday morning.

 “Back to normal na man. Dili pareha gahapon nga lisud kaayo. Karon, mura’g sa normal day lang,” he said.

The Lapu-Lapu City government is leaving the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge open until February 15. Bridge repair would resume the next day.

The street in Sitio Matumbo, Barangay Pusok to Sitio New Sangi, Barangay Pajo would still serve as diversion road just in case heavy traffic would still be experience on February 16.

The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, on the other hand, proposed a time schedule to CTMS for vehicles to cross the old bridge by the time one of the lanes would be closed Tuesday next week.

As proposed, vehicles coming from Lapu-Lapu City would be allowed to use the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge in going to their desired destination starting 1 a.m. to noon, while those coming from Mandaue City to Lapu-Lapu City will only pass the same bridge from 1 p.m. to midnight.

Brazil said that he agreed with TEAM’s proposal, but said it needs another coordination meeting. — (FREEMAN)