Cebu-Bohol bridge idea gets support

CEBU, Philippines - While the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) endorsed a third Cebu-Mactan bridge, some politicians and businessmen are pushing for a bridge from Cebu to Bohol province.

They are also supporting the proposal to have the third bridge that will connect Cebu City to the Municipality of Cordova, part of Mactan Island, “but we are looking forward for the bridge from Cebu to Bohol,” said Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies, Inc. (NAITAS).

Joseph said that when it happens, it would be the best bridge and a long term project that tourists and investors want to see.

“No problem with the crime as long as they see that it is being solved,” he said. “We cannot stop crime but they want to see that there are solutions and there are ways of preventing, that’s the most important because crime is all over,” Joseph further said.

Third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia, who will run for governor next election, agreed that the bridge to Bohol would be a major boost in tourism. Garcia added that the proposed third Cebu-Mactan bridge is long overdue.

“Any improvement for business environment, more opportunities,” said Prudencio Gesta, the president of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Gesta said that the existing two bridges have served volume of travelers but moving forward needs additional ones to improve the traffic.

“It may be a bridge or tunnel for as long as there’s another option to go to Mactan Island,” he added.

Lilu Aliño, owner of Lilu Advertising and Marketing Solutions, suggested that such project has to be well-planned or else it doesn’t work.

“It’s going to be more fun if we have more bridges and maybe we have more fun if we go directly using that bridge towards Bohol,” Aliño said.

Businessman and The Freeman columnist Valeriano “Bobit” Avila said that a tunnel from South Reclamation Project would be the right link to Cordova and thus traffic from the north will be lesser since travelers coming from the south will have their own way to go to the airport.

He said that this tunnel should link up with an exit to the Mactan Cebu International Airport and continue on after Olango Island and link up all the way to Bohol via a bridge similar to what SRP has.

The proposal still has to pass through the RDC who will recommend to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for funding. (FREEMAN)