Undeniably, vehicular traffic in Metro Cebu is already bad on normal or regular days. As the Christmas holidays started, it simply worsened. Last Friday and Saturday were typical examples of where we are right now traffic-wise. Bumper to bumper, motorists were stuck for one to two hours in all choke points in Metro Cebu. What made it so frustrating was, in some choke points, traffic jams lasted until 11:00 in the evening. Indeed, our traffic woes are long and flatly permanent.
If we care to analyze, we can surmise that our roads are so inadequate to accommodate the current number of vehicles. Worse, our public transport system is so inappropriate.
Also, we must not forget that there are more flights that are now in the drawing board ready to be mounted from some major cities in Asia direct to Mactan, Cebu. Remember, this is in addition to the many daily flights already mounted by several Chinese-owned airlines between Cebu and the key cities in mainland China. To think that non-China-based airlines, like Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia, have also mounted flights and, probably, will have more in the future in this route, Mactan-Cebu’s International Airport (MCIA) will soon become one of the busiest airports in the country.
Moreover, knowing fully well that GMR-Megawide invested several billions in the new terminal, it will surely market the facility to more airlines. Therefore, that should mean more destinations and more diverse nationalities coming into the country as tourists. Again, for tourism, this is good. However, any increase in the number of tourists will also require transport augmentation. Consequently, our existing traffic woes will only get worse.
We might say, well, the third bridge is almost done. Yes, it is. However, will this ease the current traffic mess? We can’t be sure. For one, the New Cebu International Container Port is already a go. Though touted to “decongest traffic at the existing base port” in Cebu City, we have to be reminded that cargo owners are all over the islands of Cebu and Mactan. Therefore, the frequency of the movements of goods and the use of our roads will remain the same.
Probably, one that will help ease our traffic woes is the fourth bridge (from Mactan to Mandaue-Cansaga bridge side). Yes, but partly. Why? This is because those cargo owners based in Mactan will no longer use the existing bridges. However, that this will totally solve our traffic woes, the answer is an absolute no. The reason is so simple. Cargo owners in the southern part of Cebu will still go through the cities of Cebu and Mandaue before reaching the Consolacion port.
So that, what is necessary right now is to have another international port in the southern part of Cebu. Depending on the technical feasibility, it could be situated either in Minglanilla or Naga. With this port, Cebu, as a whole, will benefit a lot.
For one, having both a North Harbor (the International Port in Tayud, Consolacion) and a South Harbor (probably, Minglanilla or Naga), businessmen in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue may just relocate their factories and warehouses to far north and south of Cebu. Logically so as the value of the lots in these cities where these structures are situated are now skyrocketing and it is so unwise to simply use them as such. Needless to say, the transfer shall also be a big boost in the countryside.
Secondly, we all know that there is an economic zone in Naga. Yes, there is, but, unfortunately, so underutilized. It is almost empty. Then, there were some locators. However, as years passed, locators transferred their factories to other countries where they are more cost-efficient and where ports are not situated deep inside the metropolis.
Thirdly, with the completion of the third bridge, a south harbor shall certainly complement it. Obviously, trailers can use the third bridge to reach Mactan Island. In the process, probably, Cordova can even develop its own economic zone. These and more, without congesting the cities of Cebu (except a portion of the South Road Properties) and Mandaue.
Certainly, therefore, a south harbor is necessary. That’s a no-brainer.