Damaged portion of MCE in Naga set for completion

Local

THE collapsed segment of the Metro Cebu Expressway (MCE) in Barangay Cantao-an, Naga City, which has been stalled for years due to landslides, legal hurdles, and permit issues, is set for completion by June.

The timeline coincides with the deadline set by President Bongbong Marcos Jr. for urgent infrastructure projects such as river widening ahead of the rainy season.

Segment 3A, a 4.55-kilometer stretch of the 56.94-kilometer MCE linking Naga City in the south to Danao City in the north, partially collapsed in October 2023 following heavy rains and soil instability.

The collapse prompted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) to issue a cease-and-desist order in February 2024, citing the absence of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the affected portion.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, who visited the site on Wednesday, Jan. 28, said the project has faced repeated setbacks over eight years.

“This MCE here in Cebu is one example of that repeated problem in the DPWH… 8 years and it’s not over,” he said, citing funding gaps, low prioritization, and disagreements among agencies as major causes of the delays.

He added that the DENR-EMB order further complicated progress.

Dizon’s visit to the MCE came a day after he inspected the Mananga River in Talisay City.

He emphasized that concrete interventions must be implemented within six months for both the river and the expressway, highlighting the urgency of completing critical projects before the wet season.

Rehabilitation works on Segment 3A resumed in July 2025 under DPWH and contractor QM Builders.

Engineers are implementing six technical solutions to stabilize the road, including specialized jet grouting technology to strengthen the soil and prevent future collapses.

Dizon confirmed that the work will be completed before the rainy season.

“We will finish this once and for all before the rainy season starts,” he said.

Dizon also said that right-of-way issues in several areas, including in Barangay Pangdan have also been resolved, with affected families set to receive full compensation.

The DPWH is doubling equipment and manpower to accelerate progress. Segment 3A runs from Naga City to Minglanilla, while Segment 3B is planned under a public-private partnership.

Earlier, Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said the provincial government is requesting national support to complete the long-delayed expressway.

“This is a national project, not a project of the Province,” she said, noting that the province cannot fully fund the project.

She added that the DENR has lifted its order, allowing repair of the collapsed sections, but securing funds in the 2026 budget remains crucial.

Once completed, the MCE is expected to improve connectivity across Cebu, reduce congestion on coastal highways, and serve thousands of daily commuters, including the 4,000 workers traveling to the Minebea factory in Naga City who rely on Segment 3A.(MyTVCebu)