Hub for marine biodiversity education, conservation opens in Cordova, Cebu

CORDOVA, Cebu – The Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, Inc. (MPIF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) that manages the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC), inaugurated the newly renovated Mangrove Propagation and Information Center (MPIC), a hub facility for marine biodiversity education and conservation in Cordova, Cebu with a renovation budget of P4.5 million for its repair and rehabilitation.

“Today marks not just an inauguration, but the beginning of a shared legacy. The opening of the Cordova Mangrove Propagation and Information Center—the only one of its kind in the Visayas—is a historic step forward in preserving, understanding, and empowering communities through our mangrove ecosystems,” MPIF President Melody del Rosario said as she reflected on the greater meaning behind the project.

This center is not just a building. It is a symbol of partnership, science, stewardship, and local pride. In MPIF, we believe that protecting our environment is not just a philanthropic duty or corporate responsibility—it is an act of love, she added.

The MPIC is the first and only center of its kind in the Visayas, dedicated to the protection and propagation of mangrove forests in Cordova and surrounding coastal areas. The facility serves as a hub for raising awareness on the role mangroves play in coastal defense, biodiversity preservation, and climate resilience, while also offering opportunities for nature appreciation and ecotourism, del Rosario bared.

The MPIC is provided with tools and equipment essential for the center’s operations, including a Smart TV, sound system, electric fans, tables, and chairs, to support its daily activities and visitor engagement with the newly-inducted Mangrove Eco-Guides to assist in the Center’s operations.

According to Del Rosario, the five newly trained Mangrove Eco-Guides are local community members nominated by the municipality. These individuals handle the daily operations of the Center, including leading tours, conducting orientations, and assisting in mangrove park maintenance.

Their training included immersive sessions with environmental consultants and local government partners, where they gained essential knowledge and learned best practices. MPIF will co-provide a monthly allowance for these Eco-Guides over the next three years, ensuring the continuity and sustainability of their service. With their training and commitment, they are fully equipped to guide visitors through the Center and surrounding mangrove park, Del Rosario said.

More than P30 million was raised through contributions from Manuel Pangilinan himself, First Pacific, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), Maynilad, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), PHILEX Mining Corporation, and Benny Santoso.  Other support came from the Makati Medical Foundation, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, and PLDT.

“Thank you for changing the image of this center. It becomes the best place for us to be proud of, along with our mangroves. Rest assured that under my command, we will take care of this center, we will continue our projects, and we will invest more for the future of Cordova,” Mayor Cesar Suan said. (Photos: CCLEX/Max Limpag)

CCLEX rolls out new toll rates effective July 1

CEBU CITY – The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) rolls out new toll rates effective July 1, 2025 as approved by the Local Toll Regulatory Council (LTRC), a council created by the local governments of Cebu City and Municipality of Cordova through an ordinance to implement and set toll rates for the expressway.

Effective July 1, 2025, toll increase in phases with a provisional discounted rate are to be implemented while the LTRC-approved amount will be implemented at a later date.

The implementation of the adjusted rates is part of CCLEX’s staggered toll adjustments every two years that was provided for under the Concession Agreement entered and signed into by the Cebu City Government, Cordova Municipal Government, and Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) for the implementation of the CCLEX project.

LTRC’s newly approved toll matrix for CCLEX are as follows:  P68 for Class 1M vehicles or motorcycles with engine displacements 110cc to 399 cc.; P107 for Class 1 vehicles (motorcycles 400cc and up; and vehicles with 2 or 3 axles with a height of up to 7 feet such as cars, jeeps, pick-ups, and small vans; P214 for Class 2 vehicles (or those with 2 or 3 axles and a height of more than 7 feet such as light trucks, buses, and high-roof vans; and P321 for Class 3 vehicles (or rigid trucks with 3 or more axles and a height of more than 7 feet such as heavy and multi-axles trucks, and trailers (articulated).

To make the transition easier for motorists, the discounted rate that will be implemented by CCLEC management, effective July 1, are as follows: P65 for Class 1M vehicles; P100 for Class 1 vehicles; P200 for Class 2 vehicles; and P300 for Class 3 vehicles.

“We are grateful to our valued motorists for their patronage since we started operating, and who continue to make CCLEX their preferred route. We understand that any toll changes can raise concerns, and we assure you that we are steadfast in our commitment to continuously enhance our services to provide you safe, seamless, and reliable travel experience,” CCLEC President and General Manager Allan Alfon said, in an official statement released to media.

 

Alfon said that since its opening in April 2022, CCLEX has significantly improved the travel experience of millions of its road users by hugely cutting the travel time between Cebu City to Mactan Island by 20 to 75 percent, compared to 82 to 85 minutes prior to CCLEX, per study made by the Center for Social Research and Education of the University of San Carlos.

CCLEX has also helped spur the revival of tourism and the economy after the pandemic. Land resources in Cordova have also become more accessible and attractive as its proximity to Cebu City has made it a potential investment area for businesses, Alfon added.

To further provide better expressway experience and greater mobility to Cebu road users, CCLEC embarks on expansion projects to connect CCLEX to downtown Cebu City and the Mactan Cebu International Airport, Alfon bared.

CCLEX, which connects mainland Cebu through Cebu City’s South Road Properties to the Mactan Island through Barangay Pilipog in the Municipality of Cordova, is operated by CCLEC, a subsidiary company of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), and a member of the MVP Group of Companies. (Photos: CCLEX-FB/Google Images)