Screengrab from DPWH

After nearly eight years of delays, a long-stalled section of the Metro Cebu Expressway (MCE) is finally moving toward completion.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it aims to finish the 4.55-kilometer segment in Naga City, Cebu within five to six months, including portions that previously collapsed and are now under repair.

The push follows a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track long-delayed government infrastructure projects so the public can finally benefit from them. The President also stressed that the expressway section must be completed before the rainy season.

During an inspection of the site, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon noted that the project has been stuck since it began in 2018, largely due to slow implementation.

“Kagaya ng paulit-ulit kong sinasabi the past weeks, ang directive ni PBBM is itong mga project na matagal nang hindi natatapos, kailangan tapusin na natin. And itong MCE dito sa Cebu is one example of that repeated problem sa DPWH. It’s only 4 kilometers, ang igsi-igsi nito, and yet 8 years hindi pa tapos,” said Secretary Dizon.

To ensure the timeline is met, Dizon has ordered the deployment of additional equipment and DPWH personnel to the project site.

The DPWH also said it is ready to assist the Cebu Provincial Government in speeding up construction of the larger sections of the Metro Cebu Expressway that fall under provincial management.

Once completed, the expressway is expected to significantly ease traffic and improve travel time across Metro Cebu—relief that residents and motorists have long been waiting for.