Mandaue-Mactan bridge renamed: It’s now Serging Osmeña Bridge

CEBU, Philippines - The Mactan Cebu Bridge Management Board yesterday renamed the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge the Serging Osmeña Bridge as it called on Malacañang and other agencies to hasten the construction of the third bridge from Cebu City to Mactan Island.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy made the two proposals that were unanimously carried by the board presided by Efren Carreon, the assistant regional director of the National Economic Development Authority-7 in lieu of MCDCB chairwoman, acting Gov. Agnes Magpale.

The bridge is now named after the late Cebuano senator Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr. who conceptualized the idea of connecting mainland Cebu and Mactan Island.

Since its construction, the first bridge was called the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge while the second one was known as Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge in honor of the late senator Marcelo Fernan, who was also a Cebuano and former chief justice.

Seeing the traffic problem on both bridges, the MCBMB upon the proposal of Sitoy passed a resolution appealing the authorities to hasten the opening of the third access.

The proposals under discussion at present include the opening of a tunnel from Cebu City to Cordova town which forms part of Mactan Island.

The second proposal was the construction of a third bridge from Cebu City passing through Shell Island to Cordova.

Sitoy said that pending approval of both proposals, the establishment of a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) facility is the immediate solution.

He said that to construct a causeway from Cebu City to Shell Island and from there to Barangay Pilipog in Cordova will not cost too much.

Aside from Malacañang, the resolutions will also be submitted by the MCBMB secretariat to the representatives Rachel del Mar of Cebu City and Gabriel Luis Quisumbing of the sixth district, the governor, and mayors of Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova.

A copy of the resolution will also be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications and the director-general of NEDA. —/BRP (FREEMAN)