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Cebu officials have submitted a massive coastal road project proposal to the Regional Development Council for a 2027 feasibility study to ease traffic congestion and boost tourism.
Cebu officials submitted a massive coastal road project proposal to the Regional Development Council for a 2027 feasibility study to ease traffic congestion and boost tourism.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro and Representative Sun Shimura stated the project could be financed through public-private partnerships, provincial loans, the 2027 national budget, or third-party investors. Representative Shimura emphasized that the proposed coastal highway will improve public safety by bypassing regular town centers and diverting long-distance traffic away from approximately 37 schools CEBU took a major step toward building a massive new coastal road that will connect the northern and southern parts of the island.
The proposed project has officially been sent to the Regional Development Council for a feasibility study, bringing it one step closer to reality. Officials say this new highway will jumpstart the local economy, make travel much safer, and finally ease heavy traffic congestion. Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro shared in a media interview on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, that the project was discussed earlier this year during an RDC meeting.
During that meeting, Fourth District Representative Sun Shimura suggested building a coastal road instead of pursuing a separate transaction project. Governor Baricuatro explained that the proposal is now with the RDC for a feasibility study set for 2027. If the study gets positive results, actual construction could begin by late 2027 or 2028.
"We are not yet complete with the plan it will go through the feasibility study," Baricuatro said. “Naay budget for a feasibility study, but we would look how we are going to finance. It could be it could be mang loan ang province. We’ll see.
” The main goal of the coastal road is to link the far ends of Cebu by running along the island's coastlines.
Governor Baricuatro believes this better connection is exactly what the island needs right now. Representative Shimura agreed, stating that if the project proves to be workable, it will drive economic growth and give the province's economy a massive push by improving transport and tourism. He even mentioned that the project could follow the model of major toll roads in Luzon.
“Since we are a premiere province if we can do it and we can check on the feasibility if maayo ba sad siya economically,” said Shimura. “We can just base on the public transport.
Not to mention the tourists, the private tourists, so maka-generate sad gyud ni og economic development maka-spur gyud sa economy sa atong probinsya,” Shimura added. Under the initial concept, Shimura said the northern section would cover coastal areas starting from the east side of Daanbantayan and passing through Medellin and Tabogon. The Department of Public Works and Highways Region 7 has already asked where the best starting points would be in both the north and the south. Shimura also noted that some existing coastal roads built during Fifth District Representative Duke Frasco’s term might be combined into this new project.
Because the 2026 national budget is already locked in, the coastal road project will likely look for a spot in the 2027 national budget. Shimura is also very open to working with private companies to get it built faster.
"I proposed na masugdan lang sa atoang DPWH and then if there’s a third party that would want to come in, it would be better," Shimura said. Beyond business and tourism, the new highway is expected to act as a bypass road.
It will take long-distance drivers, public buses, and tourists away from busy town centers and move them to the coast instead. Shimura emphasized that this change will drastically improve safety for local residents, especially young students.
“First is safety. That's what I manifested there in the RDC…It will greatly help the safety of our children,” said Shimura.
“Muagi ka’g national highway nga schools more or less 37 ka schools imong maagian, imagine the safety of the kids nga mangagi sa national highway,” Shimura added. This project marks a major turning point for Cebu’s infrastructure.
By moving traffic away from local schools and creating a fast, reliable link across the island, the proposed coastal road aims to create a safer, more connected, and wealthier future for all Cebuanos. (
Cebu Coastal Road Project Regional Development Council Feasibility Study Traffic Congestion
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