Lapu Mayor vows to build more infra to boost tourism

CEBU, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard ‘Ahong’ Chan vowed, during the Cebu Tourism Forum held on July 3, 2024, to build more infrastructure to boost the tourism industry and the local economy of Lapu-Lapu.

The forum, which carries the theme “Dayon Kamo: Reimagining Sugbo Tourism” was spearheaded by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) as part of this year’s Cebu Business Month, was held at the Terminal 2 VIP Lounge of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

Chan unveiled key projects aimed at addressing the city's current challenges, among which is the construction of a coastal road that will link Barangays Pajo, Pusok, and Ibo.

With an estimated total cost of P3.5 billion, the project is set to commence this year. While the initial budget allocated is P320 million, there are plans to secure an additional P1 billion by the following year.

In a recent development, two hectares of socialized housing in Barangay Calawisan have been made possible through a land donation from real estate developer Johndorf Ventures Corp. (JVC).

The project, funded initially with P230 million, will consist of a 5-storey building with 200 units, each spanning 22 square meters.

With a potential expansion to 1,500 units, this housing initiative falls under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH), a national housing program established under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2022.

Additionally, plans for socialized housing in Barangay Canjulao, covering 25 hectares and comprising 5,000 units, were mentioned during the interview.

Priority for these units will be given to individuals residing in hazardous zones and those impacted by demolitions, as well as coastal area residents affected by the upcoming coastal road construction from Barangay Pajo to Ibo.

These efforts are part of the city's beautification project to enhance the tourist experience and eliminate eyesores along the coastal road.

"It's an eyesore to our tourists who will go up to the bridge. They can see those who are living in the coastal , so once we will beautify the coastal road with a boardwalk so wala nay makita na eyesore,” he told The Freeman.

Furthermore, the mayor highlighted the Mactan Expo Center, a P1.5 billion project by Megaworld located within The Mactan Newtown, which is targeted to be completed by 2025. This venue is slated to host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2026, and the mayor has affirmed its completion ahead of the summit.

Lastly, the Lapu-Lapu City Expressway (LLEX), a P25 billion 12-kilometer expressway from Barangay Babag, is set to provide a faster route to MCIA, connecting through the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.

The LLEX aims to alleviate traffic congestion by reducing the travel time from Cebu City to the MCIA from 35 minutes to just 12 minutes.

These transformative projects not only address existing issues such as traffic congestion but also pave the way for job creation and increased business investments in the city. - Renee Ross Villariasa