Road closures hit Mactan for Asean simulation

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Motorists heading to and from Lapu-Lapu City on Monday, May 5, should expect traffic congestion as authorities enforce intermittent road closures for an Asean simulation exercise ahead of the summit.

Local officials released a traffic advisory detailing affected routes, schedules, and recommended detours as part of the preparations for the 48th Asean Summit set in Mactan later this week.

READ: ASEAN summit in Cebu: Expect convoy closures on Mactan main roads

Simulation schedule, road impact

Authorities scheduled the Asean simulation exercises (SIMEX) at three key times: 8 a.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m.

During these periods, traffic managers will temporarily close major stretches leading to Mactan Newtown, a high-security zone where summit activities will take place.

Affected routes include:

Maribago to Mactan Newtown

Punta Engaño Road to Mactan Newtown

These closures effectively render the main coastal corridor from Maribago through Mactan to Punta Engaño impassable during the advisory windows.

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Detours, alternative routes

Traffic authorities urge motorists to avoid the coastal route and instead use interior roads within Lapu-Lapu City.

Recommended detours include:

Inner barangay roads west of the closure zone

Routes passing through the Buaya area near the airport access road

Mactan Airport Road and connecting interior roads

Agus Road leading inward to link back to main highways

Drivers should reroute through local and airport-access roads and avoid the Mactan Newtown coastal corridor entirely during the exercise.

READ: Governor Baricuatro urges cooperation for ASEAN Summit in Cebu

Tight security ahead of summit

The simulation forms part of heightened security measures for the Asean Summit, with stricter access controls expected around Mactan Newtown and nearby billeting areas.

In an earlier advisory, authorities warned that motorists should brace for intermittent closures tied to convoy movements of visiting heads of state.

Nagiel Bañacia, head of the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, stressed that closures would not last the entire day but would occur whenever delegations pass through designated routes.

“Anticipated gyud ang traffic, there will be road closures, the closure will only be kung dunay mu agi na convoy, not necessarily the entire day will be closed,” Bañacia said.

(Traffic is really anticipated; there will be road closures, however, the closure will only be when a convoy passes by, not necessarily for the entire day.)

He added that roads would reopen immediately after each convoy passes, but he warned that frequent movements could still disrupt traffic flow.

“Kung dunay convoy, road closure, after makaagi ablihan…however, kay daghan man kaayo ni sila…There will be a lot of road closures,” he said.

(If there is a convoy, there will be a road closure; after it passes by, it will be reopened… however, since there are many of them, there will be a lot of road closures.)

Key areas, limited impact elsewhere

Authorities identified the main ceremonial route as the stretch connecting Mactan-Cebu International Airport to summit venues and billeting areas, including Mactan Newtown and nearby resorts.

“Ang major thoroughfare ang maigo sa Lapu-Lapu is from the airport to the Mactan area… Shangri-La and then going to JPark Hotel,” Bañacia said.

(The major thoroughfare that will be affected in Lapu-Lapu is from the airport to the Mactan area… Shangri-La and then going to JPark Hotel.)

Despite the expected congestion, officials said disruptions would remain concentrated within the summit zone.

“Mao ra na dinha ang apektado. The rest of Lapu-Lapu, the two bridges are open,” Bañacia added.

(That’s the only area affected. The rest of Lapu-Lapu, including the two bridges, will remain open.)

This means both the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge will remain accessible, allowing continued travel between Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City.

No full-day closures—for now

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said authorities had not confirmed any full-day road closures but remained ready to implement them if needed.

“So far… wala gyud ta (none so far), but if there’s a situation nga kinahanglan gyud, we’re ready for that,” he said.

(So far, there are none, but if there’s a situation where it becomes necessary, we are ready for that.)

Governor Pamela Baricuatro said local governments continue to await final directives from national security agencies as delegations begin arriving.

“Starting next week…nagahuwat ra gyud tas directions sa police,” she said.

(Starting next week…We are just waiting for directions from the police.)

Advisory to motorists

With at least 11 heads of state and large delegations expected, authorities urged motorists to plan trips ahead, expect delays, and avoid the Mactan ceremonial route during peak convoy movements.

Officials emphasized that while each closure will remain brief, the frequency of convoy activity could significantly slow traffic throughout the day.

The Asean Summit will take place on May 7 and 8 in Cebu, with arrivals already underway and high-level meetings scheduled in Mactan. /dl