Metro Cebu Expressway's collapsed Segment 3A finally resumes construction after 18-month halt

Rehabilitation work on Segment 3A of the Metro Cebu Expressway (MCE) has restarted after a lengthy pause. The 4.55-kilometre stretch in Naga City suffered a partial collapse in October 2023 due to landslides. Authorities had halted construction in early 2024 over safety and regulatory concerns.

The Metro Cebu Expressway, a 56.94-kilometre project launched in 2018, aims to ease traffic between Naga City in the south and Danao City in the north. Segment 3, part of this route, is split into two sections: 3A (8.38 km) and 3B. The troubled Segment 3A was originally built under a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contract.

In October 2023, part of Segment 3A collapsed after landslides struck the area. Investigations later revealed that the project lacked an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), a requirement flagged by Engr. Mary Ann Bueno of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in February 2024. The collapse also exposed another issue—no quarry permit had been secured for soil excavation.

Then-Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia refused to lift the cease-and-desist order (CDO) issued in February 2024 until safety concerns were resolved. The DPWH and its contractor had to address hazards linked to the landslide before work could resume. By July 2025, the CDO was finally lifted, allowing rehabilitation to restart.

Once fully completed, the MCE will improve travel between northern and southern Cebu. It is also expected to reduce congestion on existing highways. The resumption of work on Segment 3A follows months of delays caused by regulatory and safety issues.