President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Monday that Segment 3A of the Metro Cebu Expressway is now passable, a critical development offering immediate relief to thousands of commuters and industrial workers in southern Cebu. The declaration came during the President's inspection of the 4.55-kilometer rehabilitated section, which serves as a vital artery connecting key economic zones in the region.
This partial reopening marks a significant step forward in Cebu's infrastructure development, directly addressing the hazardous conditions and prolonged transportation woes that have plagued the route for years. The segment's improved accessibility is poised to invigorate local commerce, enhance the daily lives of countless residents, and underscore the administration's steadfast commitment to accelerating national infrastructure projects crucial for economic resilience and improved mobility across the Philippine archipelago.
Accompanied by key cabinet members, including Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon, Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, and Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, President Marcos surveyed the site in Sitio Riverside, Barangay Cantao-an, within Naga City. His presence highlighted the administration's focus on projects pivotal for national development, particularly the ambitious 56.94-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway, which is designed to link Naga City in the south to Danao City in the north.
The journey to this crucial partial reopening has been arduous and marked by significant setbacks. Segment 3A, a cornerstone of the larger expressway project, suffered a devastating landslide in October 2023. This natural disaster rendered a substantial portion of the road impassable, severing critical supply chains, impeding business operations for numerous enterprises, and forcing countless factory workers to undertake arduous journeys on foot, often through harsh weather conditions, to reach their workplaces. The collapse not only stalled construction but also starkly exposed the profound vulnerabilities of the region’s vital transportation arteries to environmental hazards.
Rehabilitation efforts, which gained renewed momentum and recommenced in earnest in July 2025, followed the partial lifting of a cease-and-desist order related to environmental compliance issues. These works focused intensely on reinforcing the damaged sections, transforming a perilous stretch of road into a more secure and efficient thoroughfare. Engineers, displaying considerable ingenuity, strategically realigned a portion of the road to distance it from a precarious ravine that had contributed to the earlier instability.
Furthermore, a comprehensive suite of slope protection measures is actively being installed along the expressway’s sides. This critical undertaking is designed to avert future landslides and significantly enhance the long-term safety and resilience of the infrastructure, safeguarding against both geological instability and climate-related disruptions. The multifaceted interventions are equipping the expressway with improved resistance to the kinds of environmental challenges that have historically plagued the region.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), under Secretary Dizon’s leadership, has been instrumental in driving this extensive rehabilitation. Secretary Dizon confirmed that motorists could immediately utilize the newly accessible section, although he echoed the President’s caveat that certain slope stabilization works remain actively in progress to ensure enduring safety. The scope of rehabilitation encompassed not only crucial slope stabilization but also significant drainage improvements, comprehensive creek rehabilitation to manage water flow, and the application of a robust asphalt overlay to ensure durability.
A notable engineering achievement in this phase of the project is the strategic expansion of Segment 3A from its original two-lane design to a four-lane thoroughfare. This widening, reportedly achieved through round-the-clock construction schedules, aims to substantially increase traffic capacity and ensure continuous flow, even in scenarios where one section might be temporarily affected by future incidents. President Marcos emphasized that this expansion was a proactive measure, providing vital redundancy for Cebu’s burgeoning economic activities and ensuring the region’s continued growth is not hampered by infrastructural bottlenecks.
The tangible benefits of the expressway’s improved accessibility are projected to be far-reaching and immediately impactful for the local populace and economy. Travel time from Naga City to N. Bacalso Avenue in Metro Cebu is now expected to be drastically cut from approximately 35 minutes to a mere 15 minutes. Similarly, the commute between Barangay Pangdan and the Naga Valley Industrial Park, a key employment hub for thousands, is anticipated to shorten dramatically from 25 minutes to just 10 minutes. This substantial improvement in efficiency is poised to invigorate local commerce, facilitating the swifter transport of goods and services, and significantly enhancing the daily lives of over 3,000 industrial workers, commuters, and motorists who traverse the route daily. President Marcos specifically acknowledged the profound difficulties faced by businesses reliant on efficient transport networks, particularly those dealing with high-value products, and expressed optimism that the expressway’s improved conditions would restore vital investor confidence in southern Cebu.
The P1.9-billion Metro Cebu Expressway project represents a significant national undertaking, with a dedicated P100 million from the national budget allocated specifically for the urgent repairs and rehabilitation of this crucial segment. The provincial government, recognizing the expansive nature of the overall project, is actively exploring public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the development and financing of other sections, reflecting a blended approach to infrastructure development and resource management.
President Marcos’s visit to Cebu extended beyond the expressway project, underscoring a broader administrative strategy aimed at addressing critical infrastructure needs, enhancing disaster preparedness, and bolstering social welfare programs across the nation. His itinerary also included inspections of crucial flood control rehabilitation works along the Mananga River in Talisay City, an area that had suffered extensive damage from Typhoon Tino in November 2025. Additionally, he inaugurated a "Walang Gutom Kitchen" in Cebu City, a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) initiative designed to combat hunger and provide nutritional support to vulnerable communities.
Despite the celebratory tone surrounding the expressway’s partial opening and the tangible progress achieved, underlying concerns persist within the affected communities. Reports indicate that dozens of landowners in Naga City are still actively seeking appropriate compensation for properties allegedly damaged by the 2023 landslide and the subsequent rehabilitation works. Such unresolved issues highlight the complex socio-economic dimensions inherent in large-scale infrastructure projects, often requiring ongoing dialogue, transparent processes, and equitable resolution to ensure community well-being alongside developmental goals.
The Metro Cebu Expressway, particularly the rehabilitated Segment 3A, represents more than just a newly accessible road; it stands as a critical artery for the regional economy and a tangible testament to the government's resolve to overcome significant engineering and environmental challenges. President Marcos’s inspection and subsequent announcement signal a renewed momentum in delivering on promises of robust national infrastructure. As comprehensive slope protection works continue and the broader expressway project progresses steadily towards its full completion, the expectation remains that this critical corridor will unlock further economic potential and significantly improve the quality of life for the residents of Cebu, solidifying its role as a key engine of national growth.