THE province will extend its partnership with the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) for another six months so the firm can complete its ongoing feasibility study on a third access to connect mainland Cebu to Mactan Island.
The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) approved a resolution authorizing Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III to enter into a supplemental memorandum of agreement (MOA) with MPTC’s chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez.
The firm started its feasibility study last September after reaching an agreement with the Cebu provincial government and the Cordova municipal government. The MOA expired last March 3.
A resolution sponsored by Board Member Christopher Baricuatro stated that the natural calamities that affected Cebu last year created “unfavorable conditions” for the pre-feasibility study done at no cost to the province.
MPTC is a subsidiary of a consortium owned by Filipino business tycoon Manuel Pangilinan.
Davide said the province still has to determine if the cost of building a third bridge can resolve the worsening traffic woes of Metro Cebu.
A design presented last year by architect Joseph Michael Espina, a core group member of the Movement for a Livable Cebu, indicated that the proposed cable-stayed bridge and causeway will be built from the Shell Island in Cordova town.
The bridge and causeway will extend to the mouth of Guadalupe River in C. Padilla Extension and connect to V. Rama Avenue and South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City.