CEBU City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival has asked Cebu Governor-elect Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro to support the fast-tracking of the Metro Cebu Expressway (MCE), a major infrastructure project aimed at easing traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.
“Ako siyang gihangyo nga ‘Gov, puwede ba nga mag-join forces ta? Naa imong mga engineer, naa akong mga engineer. Unya, with the DPWH, mangita tag paagi nga madali because it will really help the traffic,’” Archival said in an interview with reporters following the oath-taking ceremony of Baricuatro at the City Sports Club in Cebu City on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
(I asked him, “Gov, can we join forces? You have your engineers, I have mine. Then, with the DPWH, we will find a way to expedite it because it will really help the traffic.)
Archival said the incoming governor agreed with him.
MCE is a proposed 73.7-kilometer highway intended to connect Naga City in the south to Danao City in the north through Cebu’s mountain ranges, providing an alternative route.
In early 2024, outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways to temporarily stop the MCE project due to environmental and safety concerns, particularly after landslides and a collapse in some sections that lacked an environmental compliance certificate.
As a result of these setbacks and delays, the DPWH officially removed the MCE from its list of Priority Infrastructure Flagship Programs, clearing the way for the Provincial Government to lead the project under a public-private partnership.
To accelerate development, the Capitol formed a technical working group and partnered with private firms, including Spain’s Acciona Infrastructure and Japan’s Taisei Corp., to assess the project’s financial viability and expedite its completion.
Last Feb. 10, Garcia held a meeting with Acciona Infrastructure and Taisei, local government units and national agencies to align efforts for the expressway’s completion.
Aside from Archival, other attendees included former tourism secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano and other allies. Durano was appointed as Baricuatro’s special adviser for economic and political affairs, while former defense secretary Roberto Gonzales was named peace and order adviser.
Supplemental budget
In an interview with reporters, Baricuatro commented on the proposed P1.2 supplemental budget for the Provincial Government.
She called for transparency and fairness in handling the provincial budget after the Provincial Board failed to act on the proposed supplemental budget due to lack of quorum. Only five of 18 board members attended the special session held on Wednesday, May 21.
“Speechless ko da…kay we know that there was not a quorum,” Baricuatro said.
The governor-elect expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved when the board reconvenes for its regular session on Monday, May 26.
“I’m sure our board members are responsible public servants. [They] will not do anything to jeopardize our incoming administration,” she said.
The proposed supplemental budget is intended for allocations to the offices of the vice governor and board members.
Outgoing PB Member John Ismael Borgonia (3rd District), who was absent during the special session, opposed the measure, describing it as an act of “bad faith” against the incoming administration.
No mass layoff
Baricuatro also assured Capitol employees that there will be no mass layoff under her leadership.
“We don’t need to take everybody out… We’ll evaluate properly who stays,” she said.
Meanwhile, Durano backed Baricuatro’s decision to discontinue Capitol-led tourism events such as Pasigarbo sa Sugbo and Suroy Suroy Sugbo, criticizing them as political branding efforts.
“Ang nakita nako anang Suroy Suroy, it was more on self-promotion rather than tourism promotion,” he said.
Durano said the new administration will focus on genuine destination development and improved services, especially healthcare in tourist areas. / CDF