Due to safety concerns arising from a landslide incident a few days ago, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued an executive order banning the entry of four-wheel and other large vehicles from entering the unfinished Metro Cebu Expressway project in Naga City, southern Cebu.
Gov. Garcia issued Executive Order (EO) 25 on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, restricting the entry and exit of vehicles on the expressway until further notice.
However, the governor permits motorcycles to use the road from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during favorable weather conditions; they are prohibited from passing through it in inclement weather.
A portion of Phase 3A of the expressway project in Barangay Inayagan and Barangay Cantao-an, Naga City, experienced a landslide because of rains late last month.
Cars are no longer allowed to pass through this area until further notice. While motorcycles are only allowed to pass until 6 p.m.
Garcia met with Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong and Department of Public Works and Highways officials on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and asked them to compensate for the construction of a relocation site for the affected residents of the said areas.
These residents will have to be relocated given that the areas of concern are no longer safe for shelter, especially when it rains.
It was also agreed that DPWH would shoulder the P100,000 financial assistance each for the affected families.
Gov. Garcia asserted that the affected areas may no longer be feasible for the project as she likens it to the Ayala Heights case in Busay, Cebu City.
A drone video shown at the meeting showed portions of the expressway had collapsed while cracks were found in some areas where the landslides were reported.
She pointed out there may be a fault in DPWH in further looking into the soil quality test in those areas before proceeding with the project.
Gov. Garcia ordered the Capitol's engineering team to identify an alternative route for the affected lanes of the expressway.
The 56.94-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway -- being constructed in four phases -- once completed will serve as another north-south backbone, enabling a continuous traffic flow from Naga City in the south to Danao City in the north, traversing the slopes of Cebu’s scenic mountain ranges, aiming to considerably reduce traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.
| Carlo Lorenciana