Cebu City-Cordova bridge to break ground on Jan 1

CEBU, Philippines - The ceremonial groundbreaking for the bridge that would link Cebu City to Cordova town will take place on the first day of 2015 at the Shell Island, which Cordova says is instrumental in its conversion into a municipality.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said the groundbreaking will be at 10 a.m. on January 1. The date is significant to Cordova, Sitoy said, because it was on this day that the town became independent from Lapu-Lapu City.

"Ang Shell dako og kahulogan namo kay di pa, di mi malungsod. Ang nagbuhi sa maong lungsod ang abang sa Shell Island ngadto sa Cordova. Gihimoan sa mga Amerkano ug depot," Sitoy said.

According to Gregg Jumao-as, Cordova's public information officer, a boat will ferry guests from Pier 1 in Cebu City at 7:30 a.m. on January 1.

The P16.5 billion bridge project is a joint venture agreement and a public-private partnership with Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation  a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, led by Manny Pangilinan.

At least 280 houses and 20 offices and factories in Cebu City need to be relocated while 30 houses and three establishments in Cordova will have to be moved to give way to the bridge groundwork, a study from the Japan International Cooperation Agency says.

The bridge is expected to be at least 710 meters long, which is longer than the Marcelo Fernan Bridge that connects Mandaue City to Mactan Island. MPTC will finish the causeway first within three years.

"I have a proposal to have another connection from Pilipog bridge to Mepz (Mactan Export Processing Zone) Lapu-lapu City and to the airport without using the circumferential highway, diretso na," Sitoy said.

He said the road will be built along Barangay Ibabao in Cordova town.

 "(It could be built) along Pilipog River and Ibabao Cordova and cross another small bridge to Lapu-Lapu site then Mepz connect ngadto na sa airport shortcut," he said.

The initial plan to is to charge vehicles that would pass the bridge - P55 for ordinary vehicles and twice the amount for trucks.  (FREEMAN)