This Week in Cebu (March 24 to 30, 2019)

Cebu may be in the middle of the El Niño, but the weather does not say so. The week may start with sunny weather, but cloudiness with occasional rain showers will dominate the rest of the week. A touch of morning rain is expected on Monday. While the sun will peek out from behind the clouds on Tuesday and Wednesday, cloudy weather and rains are expected for the rest of the week. Temperatures in the Queen City of the South are expected to be between from 23°C to 33°C [1].

Work on Segment 3 of the Cebu Expressway is already underway, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) [2]. The 73-kilometer highway will stretch from Danao City to the City of Naga. The Cebu Expressway is divided into three segments. The first will be a 26-kilometer arterial road from the boundary of Minglanilla and Talisay to the boundary of Mandaue City and Consolacion. The second is a 29.799-kilometer highway stretching from the boundary of Mandaue City and Consolacion to Danao City. On the other hand, the 17.15-kilometer Segment 3 stretches from the boundary of Minglanilla and Talisay up to the City of Naga. The Cebu Expressway will run parallel to the N. Bacalso Ave and the Cebu North Road. It is expected to meet the future traffic demand of Metro Cebu and offers seamless traffic flow from the north to south and vice-versa.

GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) are considering using cable cars in bringing travelers from Mandaue City to the airport [3]. Airport authorities are still evaluating its feasibility, and it still has to go through a discussion with the parties that may be affected by the proposal. The cable car concept was presented by Socor Construction Corp president Fortunato Sanchez Jr. during a full council meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 late last year. A cable car system will allow passengers to get an estimate on when they will reach the airport. It can also cater to passenger traffic going to the airport. If approved, the system can be implemented within 24 months.

With the branding of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) as the one and only “Resort airport in Asia,” more flights are expected for Cebu in the near future. This was revealed by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat during the Routes Asia 2019 event hosted by the province [4]. Nearly a thousand local and international tourism stakeholders, airports and airlines participated in the event. The event will put the spotlight on Cebu and will result in more seats and flights coming into the island. It will also increase tourist arrivals in the region.

In order to avoid another Boracay incident, the Philippine Coast Guard District in Central Visayas (PCG-Region 7) cleaned up the coastal areas of Camotes Island [5]. PCG-Region 7 spokesman Lt. Junior Grade Michael John Encina said the cleanup was a part of the Intensified Community Assistance, Awareness, Response, and Enforcement (iCARE) program of ensuring that none of the islands in Cebu are closed for rehabilitation. Camotes Island is among the most visited tourist spots in Cebu. Coast Guard personnel and volunteers collected around 500 kilograms of garbage, including plastic bags and bottles. Aside from the cleanup the PCG-Region 7 also conducted a dental and medical mission a day before the event.

The onset of El Niño has resulted in concerns on an increase of bottle water prices in the Queen City of the South [6]. Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak sent a formal letter to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) about a possible increase in bottled water prices. He urged the government agency to monitor prices since businessmen may take advantage of the situation. A state of El Niño was already declared by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) at the start of February. The extreme weather condition has already dried up the water supply in the upland barangays of the city. The water in the Buhisan dam is also at a critical level while a drop in the production of the Jaclupan was noted.

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