Traffic problems to remain a challenge to “rosy” 2016

CEBU, Philippines – While prospects for the regional economy remain positive in 2016, a regional official of the Department of Trade and Industry cited traffic as one of the challenges this year.

Asteria Caberte, Central Visayas director of DTI, described traffic as a function of growth but stressed it significantly entails cost in production and on the part of workers.

In an interview, Caberte also emphasized that proper infrastructure is also needed to support the growing economy.

Earlier, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ma. Teresa Chan also cited the worsening traffic, lack of infrastructure and port congestion as Cebu’s main economic problems

According to Caberte, congestion happens at the Cebu port especially at times when cargo volume rises.

That’s why she also wants the new international container port be implemented sooner.

The Regional Development Council recently announced the Cebu container port might start construction by August this year if the plan for official development assistance (ODA) funding for the project will push through.

The port is targeted to be completed by second quarter of 2019.

During a briefing of CCCI last month, Tomas Riveral, president of Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. (OPASCOR) urged the government to also build road networks from Tayud, Consolacion where the new port will be built.

Riveral emphasized the port will be useless if there will be no new road networks leading to Cebu City and other parts of Cebu.

He urged the business sector particularly the CCCI to advocate for such infrastructure.

Chan had said the CCCI would continue to talk with port officials to continually address the port congestion. (FREEMAN)