M. Cuenco Flyover

Slipping through the gears of Cebu City’s narrative is the M. Cuenco Flyover. It stands as a silent observer, a concrete testament to the city’s evolving relationship with progress and preservation. The M. Cuenco Flyover, a structure of intended utility, has become a point of contention in Cebu City’s ongoing dialogue about urban development. Intended to ease traffic at the intersection of M.J. Cuenco and General Maxilom Avenues, the M. Cuenco Flyover, along with its proposed counterpart at Gorordo and Archbishop Reyes Avenues, found itself at the heart of a debate in the early 2010s. Some, like Representative Cutie del Mar, championed these flyovers as necessary solutions to the city’s growing traffic woes. Millions of pesos were allocated for their construction. Others, however, voiced concerns about the efficacy and aesthetics of these “monstrous structures.” Travel agents lamented their narrow design, citing incidents where broken-down vehicles caused gridlock. Hotel executives compared Cebu City’s traffic to a balloon, arguing that flyovers merely squeezed the congestion to other areas, like the Banilad flyover’s impact on Talamban. Mayor Michael Rama, too, favored road widening and a comprehensive traffic master plan over the construction of more flyovers. He argued that such structures threatened the city’s historical sites, like the Asilo dela Milagrosa Church, and risked harming local businesses. The M. Cuenco Flyover, therefore, represents more than just a traffic solution. It embodies the complex considerations of progress, preservation, and the needs of a growing city. It’s a reminder that urban development is not merely about building upwards, but about building wisely.