As Cebu once again welcomes the Fiesta Señor and the vibrant Sinulog festivities, residents brace themselves for the inevitable return of horrendous traffic congestion across the metro. This annual challenge compounds the already crawling traffic experienced during the recent holiday season, presenting a recurring reality that the city must confront.
The Staggering Economic and Social Cost of Gridlock
The latest reports paint a grim picture of the crisis. Heavy traffic in Metro Cebu results in over P1.1 billion in daily economic losses, a massive drain on the local economy. The year 2025 saw Cebu City recording no less than 24 traffic accidents every single day. Traffic volume remains overwhelming, with the South Road Properties alone seeing over 75,000 vehicles daily. This surge in vehicles has far surpassed the capacity of existing infrastructure, while thousands of traffic violations are recorded monthly, further complicating the situation.
This persistent lack of improvement over the years comes as little surprise. Current officials, tasked with leading the response, inherited the problematic scenario from previous administrations criticized for ineffective long-term planning. Many point to past leadership as a root cause of the current chaos on Cebu's streets.
A "Basket of Solutions" Turned to Frustration
Remember the much-touted "basket of solutions" promoted by former government officials as the definitive cure for Cebu's traffic woes? The public was led to believe in the imminent implementation of an electric railway transit system. Other promised projects included intelligent transport systems and new traffic management frameworks, all supposedly backed by ready foreign funding. Today, that entire package has devolved into what many see as a "basket of frustrations," with little tangible progress to show.
Even more disheartening is the fate of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, the city's flagship hope for a modern mass transport system. Its development has been fraught with instability. Previous officials at one point declared the CBRT would be scrapped, only to later recant and superficially include it in their basket of solutions. This vacillation was likely influenced by the project's association with a past administration's political rival, former mayor Tommy Osmeña. Consequently, the CBRT has been severely weakened, left directionless and struggling to advance.
International Patience Wears Thin, Commuters Suffer
The project's mismanagement has now drawn serious international concern. The World Bank, which financed the CBRT's first phase, has expressed exasperation and threatened to completely withdraw its support due to these unresolved issues. Meanwhile, the decaying state of public transportation continues to make the daily commute to workplaces, schools, hospitals, markets, and churches an excruciating ordeal for thousands of Cebuanos.
This pressing issue has become a focal point for collective prayer during the Fiesta Señor. An efficient public mass transport system promises enormous economic, environmental, and social benefits, including better access to jobs and essential services. Similarly, a functional traffic management system would enhance road safety, reduce deadly congestion, and boost overall economic efficiency.
Ultimately, traffic and transportation are not isolated problems. They are deeply intertwined with society's most critical individual concerns: access to healthcare, quality education, employment opportunities, livelihood, family well-being, and everyday safety. As the city celebrates its beloved patron, the Sto. Niño de Cebu, perhaps the most heartfelt prayer is for genuine progress—moving beyond the empty promises that have so far yielded only a basket of frustrations and toward real, actionable solutions for a growing Cebu.
