Govt mulls offering expressway project to private concessionaires

The government-funded Metro Cebu Expressway project, which is expected to start construction works next year, may be opened to private concessionaires.

This according to Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Emil Sadain who said the agency was considering opening some portions of the project to private concessionaires.

Although he noted the project would be funded using the budget allocation for DPWH.

The 73.75-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway aims to connect Danao City in the north to Naga City in the south to decongest traffic in the metropolitan area and cut travel time by an hour.

Sadain said in a recent interview that an initial budget of P300 million for the expressway project was included in the 2018 General Appropriations Act.

But he added that the bigger additional budget would be allotted to DPWH next year.

He cited that the project is divided into three segments: Talisay-Cebu City-Mandaue (Segment 1); Consolacion-Liloan-Compostela-Danao (Segment 2); and Naga-Minglanilla (Segment 3).

The DPWH official pointed out the agency was planning some revisions on some sections of the project.

The biggest challenge for the project is still the road-right-of-way acquisition, he said.

The Metro Cebu Expressway will traverse on the upland barangays of at least five cities and four municipalities, including the cities of Naga, Talisay, Cebu, Mandaue, Danao and the towns of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan and Compostela. —