CCLEX to lift Cebu economy 

The opening of the 8.9-kilometer Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) has boosted Cebu’s post-pandemic tourism and economy, a study showed in a report by Manila Bulletin.

A study by the University of San Carlos’ Center for Social Research and Education stated that apart from improving travel to top tourist spots in the province, the expressway, now the country’s longest and tallest bridge structure, has become a destination itself.

For this reason, the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) plans to build a Tourism Center beside the CCLEX alignment to allow motorists to stop and take in the scenic views.

Apart from this, CCLEX is also boosting sports tourism after hosting the bike leg of the Ironman 70.3 Philippines that drew 2,000 triathletes from 46 countries.

Next year, CCLEX will also host the 42K Cebu Marathon, expected to attract 8,000 runners.l, a week prior to the holding of the annual Sinulog festival.

Furthermore, CCLEX improved mobility and accessibility for Cebu’s residents.

As face-to-face classes resumes, students from Cordova can commute to Cebu City via CCLEX which cuts their trip from two to three hours to 45 minutes.

“Those living in Cordova and nearby barangays in Lapu-lapu City would find using the CCLEX as a more convenient way of going to Cebu City. This results in better accessibility to education institutions and facilities on the mainland,” according to the study.

To further ease travel, CCLEX, will transition to full electronic toll collection on October 1, 2022.

CCLEX, now considered the tallest and longest bridgeway structure in the country, is a project of CCLEC, in partnership with the local government units of Cebu City and Municipality of Cordova.

CCLEC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, a publicly-listed infrastructure holding company and a member of the MVP Group of Companies.

MPTC is the largest toll road concessionaire and operator in the Philippines. The company’s expansion goals include establishing toll operations in the Visayas, other parts of the Philippines, and in neighboring countries, notably Vietnam, and Indonesia.