Carbon developer Megawide eyes Cebu integrated transport terminal

CARBON Market developer and airport operator Megawide Construction Corp. (MCC) is now looking to venture into establishing an integrated transport terminal in Cebu.

Cebu2World Development Inc. (C2W) president Manuel Louie Ferrer disclosed on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, that their company will look into the possibility of constructing a terminal similar to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

C2W, a wholly owned subsidiary of Megawide Construction Corp., is undertaking the redevelopment of the century-old Carbon Public Market under a 50-year joint venture with the Cebu City Government.

Aside from that, the company will also pursue the development of a ferry terminal in the new Carbon Public Market that can transport passengers to the Mactan airport.

This is despite the announcement last week that MCC and New Delhi-based GMR Airports International BV are divesting their stakes in GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), the operator of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). They are selling their stakes to Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.

Ferrer, who is also GMCAC president and MCC executive director for infrastructure development, said the ferry and check-in terminal in the public market’s Puso Village will continue to be part of the public market’s development plan.

Integrated terminal

According to Ferrer, their company will expand its land transportation project in Cebu after the successful launching of the PITX in November 2018.

Megawide subsidiary MWM Terminals Inc. won the 35-year contract to build and operate the PITX, which is referred to as “the country’s first landport.”

The 4.5-hectare “all-in-one” integrated terminal contains not just transportation bays for buses but also commercial spaces and office buildings.

The PITX aims to harmonize the connection of different modes of transportation from provincial buses to taxis, traditional and modern jeepneys, and city buses.

“If you are familiar with PITX, naa mi bus nga mo sakay lang ka diha, diretso na sa (we have buses you can ride there that will go straight to) Mindanao because of roro (roll-on/roll-off vessels). So if we can also set up here in Cebu, puwede sad,” said Ferrer.

Last July, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia considered putting up an integrated bus terminal in a 2.5-hectare lot in the South Road Properties (SRP).

Garcia said this is part of the plan should the 93-1 land swap deal between Cebu City and the Provincial Government push through.

Ferrer said the SRP could be the possible site for their planned terminal and they are willing to sit down with Garcia to discuss the feasibility of the project.

Ferry terminal

As part of their development of the Carbon Public Market, Megawide plans to construct a ferry and check-in terminal for people going to the MCIA and other places in northern Cebu.

“It is still part of the plan. We were talking to the group… if we can fast-track, then that’s good. It will be a new experience for Cebu and our visitors,” said Ferrer.

Ferrer added that the terminal will be constructed somewhere near the incoming Puso Village situated near Compañia Maritima.

Megawide targets the ferry terminal to be operational in one year to provide a direct connection from Carbon Market to the MCIA and to help the public avoid heavy traffic from Cebu City going to Lapu-Lapu City, where the airport is.