Naga city: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday inspected the rehabilitated portion of Segment 3A of the Metro Cebu Expressway (MCE), expressing optimism that the road section damaged by a landslide years ago will now be used by motorists and help spur economic activity in southern Cebu. Joined by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, and Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, Marcos visited the project site in Barangay Cantao-an, Naga City, where a portion of the slope collapsed in October 2023, causing delays in construction and raising safety concerns.
According to Philippines News Agency, the President recalled that workers and residents had been forced to walk through the area because the road had become impassable following the landslide. Marcos stated that the road section may now be used although additional works remain necessary to ensure long-term safety and resilience. The rehabilitation involves slope stabilization and protection works, drainage improvements, and creek rehabilitation to ensure the infrastructure can better withstand landslides and other climate-related hazards.
Once completed, travel time between Barangay Pangdan and the Naga Valley Industrial Park is expected to be reduced to just 10 minutes from the current 25 minutes, improving mobility for workers, students, and businesses in the area. Marcos underscored the project's importance to industries operating in southern Cebu, particularly manufacturers that depend on efficient transport networks. He noted that poor road conditions had previously affected companies transporting high-value products through the corridor.
Segment 3A is a 4.55-km portion of the 56.94-km Metro Cebu Expressway, a major road network that will connect Naga City in southern Cebu to Danao City in the north. According to Marcos, another section of the expressway being used by investors and industrial locators is also under construction and is expected to be completed within the year. The project was expanded from its original two-lane design to four lanes to accommodate increasing traffic demand and support Cebu's growing economy. The government expects the project to accelerate the movement of goods and services, improve access for workers and students, and create more economic opportunities across southern Cebu.
