Ouano-Dizon tackles road interchange with DPWH

CEBU, Philippines — Lone District Representative Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon had started talks with Department of xx

Public Works and Highways officials on a tri-level interchange project at the corner of U.N. Avenue and M.C. Briones Street of Mandaue City.

This developed after Congress approved House Bill No. 9586 (An Act providing for the construction of a tri-level interchange along M.C. Briones St. corner U.N. Avenue, Mandaue City, Province of Cebu, and appropriating funds therefor).

The tri-level interchange project is expected to address the perennial traffic congestion in the area, particularly by Pacific Mall.

Since the area is the converging point of many vehicles,  a bottleneck of  motorists going to Lapu-Lapu City, Consolacion in the north, and to Cebu City is a daily occurrence there.

In her Facebook page, Ouano-Dizon informed her constituents that her discussion with the DPWH officials has been productive.

“Starting the year with a productive discussion on our efforts to push the Tri-level Interchange project at the U.N. Avenue corner M.C. Briones Street, Mandaue City,” she said.

She said the project, which the House of Representatives approved before the Christmas break, shall be a dream come true for Mandaue

“Ang katumanan sa maong pangandoy magsugod karung tuig 2024,” she said.

In her bill’s explanatory note, Ouano-Dizon cited the initial results of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study stating that the unresolved traffic congestion in Metro Cebu has resulted to daily economic losses of at least P1 billion.

She argued that Cebu continues to suffer from the worsening traffic problem, and road congestion has been identified as one of the major problems in the bustling metropolis.

U.N. Avenue is a major thoroughfare which connects to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, the second bridge linking mainland Cebu to Mactan Island.

“This part of Mandaue City has some of the worst traffic in Metro Cebu and is a traffic chokepoint, as this is a major connecting point not only to the Mactan Island but also to the North and South of Cebu,” Ouano-Dizon said.

She also said that the usual commute that normally takes ten to fifteen minutes within the city now stretches up to an hour or more because the existing road infrastructure simply cannot cope with the growing number of vehicles.

She further said that with the expansion of the Mactan Cebu International Airport and the expected resurgence of Cebu’s tourism industry, coupled with growing traffic volume, require the “imperative need for this tri-level interchange to alleviate the monstrous traffic congestion that has affected all sectors of society.”

She thanked DPWH-7 Regional Director Ernesto Gregorio, DPWH-7 Assistant Regional Firector Danilo Villa, Jr., Cebu 6th District Engineering Office Asst. District Engr. Wilma Campos, DPWH-7’s Atty. Brando Ray Raya, and to all who contributed their ideas in the effort towards improving the traffic situation in the city. (CEBU NEWS)