It was a year ago when the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) was opened to the public. Since then, it has seen a stream of 3.6 million vehicles using the 8.9-kilometer modern toll expressway.
โWe are happy to see the support and patronage we have received since we opened our expressway. We look forward to serving more motorists in the years to come,โ said Allan G. Alfon, president and general manager of Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC).
Alfon pointed out that CCLEXโs traffic has consistently been increasing month-to-month, from 6,000 average daily traffic on its opening week to double now at more than 12,500 daily.
Majority of CCLEX users are Class 1M or motorcycles with engine displacements 110cc to 399cc and Class 1 vehicles (motorcycles 400cc and up; cars, jeeps, pick-ups, and small vans).
In time for its one year of operations, CCLEX will be turning over P1.69 million to Cebu City and Municipality of Cordova as their share of the expresswayโs income.
Under the Joint Venture Agreement with the two local government units, Cebu City and Cordova will each receive a share of one percent of the annual toll revenues. Their respective shares are to be remitted not later than April 30 of each year throughout the 45-year concession period.
Business and Tourism
Over the past 12 months, CCLEX has also contributed to the revival of tourism and the economy after the pandemic.
โCCLEX has made it more convenient for people to go around Cebu. The increased mobility is good for business, especially retailers, because it brings increased foot traffic to our stores. It also makes it easier for us to move around our products,โ said Philippine Retailers Association Cebu President Christian Paro-an.
For business leader Bunny Pages, chairman and CEO of The Pages Food Group, โCCLEX has changed Cebu business for the better foreverโespecially those of us who operate enterprises in the South Road Properties (SRP).โ
โConservatively, I credit CCLEX as the driver of the 30 to 50 percent increase in sales that our restaurants and food stores (Lantaw, ChixBoy BBQ, Matana Cafรฉ, Manongโs Butterfry Chicken, Mr. Sizzlers, Taters Snacks, Fruitful and Thirsty) have experienced in the past year. More importantly, its existence has made the SM Seaside Mall and Il Corso properties into attractive investment opportunities for entrepreneurs today,โ Pages said.
โAs sports car enthusiast, I love driving my cars on CCLEX during weekends just to relax and enjoy Cebu from different point of view,โ he added.
The expressway has also become the host of major sporting events in the past yearโIronman 70.3 Philippines, which gathered over 1,800 triathletes from 42 nations as well as Cebu Marathon which attracted over 8,000 runners from all over the country.
More Developments
Alongside these milestones, CCLEC has made further developments inside the expressway. This includes the opening of its temporary food park while preparation of the permanent Drive & Dine facility is underway.
CCLEC has also completed its solar farm as part of the companyโs efforts toward sustainability.
Looking ahead, CCLEC is eyeing to already open its pedestrian and bike lanes in May this year. The use of these lanes is free.
CCLEC is also closely working with the Cebu City Government for the CCLEX Guadalupe Ramps to open additional access to CCLEX at the center of Cebu City to V. Rama Ave.
The Guadalupe Ramps are part of the Concession Agreement for CCLEX. It is a development project lobbied and initiated by the Cebu City Government to support the Guadalupe River Development Program.
For a more convenient CCLEX experience, CCLEC continues to encourage motorists to use and reload their RFIDs.
CCLEX, which connects mainland Cebu through Cebu Cityโs South Road Properties to the Mactan Island through the Municipality of Cordova, is the first toll road project outside Luzon of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), a publicly listed infrastructure holding company and member of the MVP Group of Companies.
MPTC is the largest toll road concessionaire and operator in the Philippines, which expansion goals include establishing toll operations in the Visayas, other parts of the Philippines, and in neighboring countries notably Vietnam, and Indonesia.
