There will be rain showers and thunderstorms in Cebu City as February draws to a close. In the next coming months, the public must brace for heavy traffic as construction for major infrastructure projects begin. Despite traffic woes, local food and mountain hiking trails make Cebu an enjoyable place to visit.
Rainy weather up ahead
Rain is in the forecast this week.
Locals and tourists can expect rain showers and thunderstorms on most days this week. Monday will start off with cloudy weather. This will be followed by partly sunny weather with rain showers and thunderstorms in the morning or afternoon. Thus, it would be best to bring an umbrella. Minimum temperature is at 23 ºC while maximum temperature is at 32 ºC.
Road projects to cause heavy traffic
Trucks may soon be banned in Mandaue to ease traffic.
Image: Bantay Mandaue – Team
The Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH-7) is advising the public to prepare for gridlocks in the next few months. This is because major road projects worth PhP1.75 billion will be rolled out, mostly in Mandaue City. These include the rehabilitation of Ouano Ave., the U.N. Ave. underpass project, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) project [1]. To ease traffic woes in Mandaue City, the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) is looking into bringing back the truck ban and providing motorists with alternate routes.
With the opening of Terminal 2 of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in June, more tourists are expected to arrive at at a time when these construction projects are ongoing. Thus, it is advisable for tourists to be at the airport three to four hours before their flights, taking into account heavy traffic when going to the airport [2].
Eating and hiking around Cebu
Barbeque with puso
An array of items for grilling at a barbeque stand
Image: Jill Bariatos
Barbeque is a popular street food in Cebu. Barbeque vendors around the city serve a variety of grilled items, from the usual ones like pork, chicken, and seafood to more exotic ones like isaw (intestines), atay og baticolon (chicken liver and gizzard), and Betamax (coagulated chicken blood). Though this food is not unique to the province, the addition of puso (hanging rice) adds a Cebuano component to one’s meal. Barbeque and puso can easily be found in eateries around Cebu City.
Hiking at the mountains of Cebu
The foggy and breath-taking view at Osmeña Peak
Image: Osmeña Peak
While Cebu is known for its beaches, the province has no shortage of peaks and mountains for newbie or experienced mountaineers to explore. For beginners, there’s Mount Mago which lies in the boundary of Carmen, Danao, and Tuburan. For a trail that closer to the city, one can hike at Mount Kan-Irag. If you’re up for a challenge, you can go to Kandugaw Peak through the Badian trail. Lastly, there’s the famous Osmeña Peak, the highest peak in Cebu at 1,013 meters above sea level.
| [1] | http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/164156/get-ready-traffic-nightmare |
| [2] | http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/164263/alternative-routes-eyed |
