Business leaders back CCLEX ramp project

CEBU, Philippines —  Some of Cebu’s business community leaders have validated Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s assertion that the Guadalupe ramp of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) will bring an even better business environment and development for the people here.

Access, after all, is essential for both business and government, they said.

Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) Cebu President Christian Paro-an said opening more access points, inlcuding CCLEX ramp, is always a good thing for business.

“An access ramp connecting Guadalupe, the most populous barangay in Cebu City, will open new opportunities to business establishments where this network of roads traverses,” Paro-an, who attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the Guadalupe ramp last week, said.

At the moment, the only way to get to the CCLEX is through the South Road Properties after the original plan was not followed for reasons not discussed anymore.

With the addition of the Guadalupe ramp, those in the downtown area can soon directly access the bridge.

The final design for the said ramp, however, is yet to be finalized.

Paro-an added that this will prove helpful for business owners in the downtown area.

“This will greatly contribute to the influx of customers, the movement of goods and services, and ultimately to the overall economic performance of Cebu-based businesses that mainly use land trips and roads in their transactions,” he said.

Former Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Felix Taguiam, who also attended the ground-breaking event, also welcomed the new development.

“More roads and bridges will enhance the movement of people and goods. In a way creating connectivity and business relations,” Taguiam said.

Such is also something that Taguiam said the business sector has been waiting for in its post-recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regan Rex King, RDAK Group chief operations officer who had also been helping out Mayor Rama achieve his vision for a Singapore-like Cebu City, for his part, said that with the improved movement of goods and services, more investments can also come in for the city’s downtown area.

“This means attracting investments, which means business opportunities, which in turn means more employment opportunities. What a way to express development in a more tangible way,” King was quoted as saying.

The additional ramps are expected to add 12,000 tolls per day over the CCLEX as projected. This will add to the 40,000 tolls per day capacity of the existing ramps of the CCLEX.

CCLEX Corp. (CCLEC) president Allan Alfon said they are looking at setting aside P2 billion to P3 billion for the Guadalupe ramps.

During the ground-breaking ceremony last week, Rama expressed that there may be some residents who will be affected by the upcoming project, but its benefit outweighs disadvantages.

The Guadalupe river is also expected to be rehabilitated in line with the Guadalupe access ramp project. – JMD (FREEMAN)