Benhur eyes coastal road from Mandaue to Bogo

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon is proposing for the construction of a coastal highway in Northern Cebu that would stretch from Mandaue City to Bogo City.

Salimbangon had already requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct a feasibility study on his proposal.

DPWH-7 Regional Director Ador Canlas has endorsed the proposal of Salimbangon to Secretary Mark Villar through Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership, Maria Catalina Cabral.

“Please be informed that the route cited partly represent a segment of the Central Nautical Highway which this Office 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 Central Visayas Region is trying to pursue,” said Canlas in his letter to DPWH central office.

Right now, Salimbangon said the travel time from Metro Cebu going to Northern Cebu is almost four hours considering the crippling traffic in the main thoroughfares of Mandaue City, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Danao City.

“This is very much tiring and costly for the motorists,” Salimbangon said.

He said the coastal highway is therefore meant to absorb the existing volume of traffic in the areas of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Danao City which is expected to increase as developments in these areas are expanding.

This is also more economical for motorists going to Northern Cebu as they save on fuel expenses and travel time since they will not have to pass through the main thoroughfares, added Salimbangon.

“This highway will put an end to the agony of our motorists who are already tired of heavy traffic and long travel hours,” he said.

Also, the coastal highway will open the other towns in Northern Cebu to investors considering their high potential for tourism due to their white sand beaches such as Borbon, Sogod and Tabogon.

Salimbangon said this highway is also very much important in achieving his goal of establishing an economic zone in the fourth district.

“The problem on traffic if not addressed will surely derail the development in this part of Cebu,” he added.

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 that he has been filing failed to pass through Congress in the previous administration.

Last year, Salimbangon reported that the House Committee on Trade and Industry approved his proposal.

He also requested President Rodrigo Duterte to endorse it as one of the priority bills in Congress to fast track the approval process.

He also explained that this is also the essence why he pushed for the widening of national highway going through the north from a two-lane to a four-lane highway.

Potholes and dusts

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City government has received numerous complaints over several potholes and dust along Ouano Avenue in the North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City.

Councilor Carmelino Del Mar said many motorists and commuters have noticed and are criticizing the uneven roads that spew dust whenever they pass by the area. The same concern was also shared by establishment owners in the area, Del Mar said.

"Actually it's not just lubak-lubak (sa dalan) ang reklamo diha. Ang kadaghanan sad, especially sa mga establishments along the boulevard, kana gyung abog. Gani kanang pintal sa establishment nila nga white, almost brown (na) because kanang abog bitaw," Del Mar said.

The Ouano Avenue consists of six lanes with a total length of 7.60 kilometers, and is the responsibility of the DPWH-7 as it part of the national road.

Del Mar said he already raised the concern to Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing so they could make a request to DPWH to make repairs.

"I'm sure the Mayor has requested that already. I mentioned it to him 2-3 weeks ago," Del Mar said.

Suzette Nwanaka, DPWH sixth district engineer, informed the city government through Jessie Perez, protocol officer of Quisumbing, that rehabilitation of Ouano Avenue will start next month with a budget of P223 million. (FREEMAN)