Metro Cebu
Template:Infobox Metro Cebu The Cebu Metropolitan Area or Metro Cebu is the main urban center of the island province of Cebu in the Philippines. Metro Cebu is located along the central eastern portion of the island including the nearby island of Mactan. It accounts for 20 percent of the land area and 60 percent of the population (2007 census) of the entire province of Cebu.
Metro Cebu is a metropolitan area that is centered on Cebu City, the capital of Cebu and the regional capital of Central Visayas with twelve surrounding cities and municipalities. Metro Cebu is one of the officially defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines, the other being Metro Manila.
Cities and Municipalities
It is comprised seven cities and six municipalities.
| City | Population¹ | Area (km²) | Pop. density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carcar City | 100,632 | 96.10 | 1,047.16 |
| Cebu City | 798,809 | 279.45 | 2,858.50 |
| Danao City | 109,354 | 107.30 | 1,019.14 |
| Lapu-Lapu City | 292,530 | 59.23 | 4,938.88 |
| Mandaue City | 318,575 | 28.88 | 11,030.99 |
| Naga City | 95,163 | 98.24 | 968.68 |
| Talisay City | 179,359 | 42.22 | 4,248.20 |
| Municipality | Population¹ | Area (km²) | Pop. density (per km²) |
| Compostela | 39,167 | 68.90 | 568.46 |
| Consolacion | 87,544 | 42.05 | 2,081.90 |
| Cordova | 45,066 | 8.46 | 5,326.95 |
| Liloan | 92,181 | 45.09 | 2,044.38 |
| Minglanilla | 101,585 | 48.97 | 2,074.43 |
| San Fernando | 54,932 | 74.05 | 741.82 |
¹2007 Census
Note: In October 2005, development planners from Regional Development Council 7, Metropolitan Cebu Development Council headed by the Cebu Provincial Governor and Local Government Units of Cebu expanded the definition of Metro Cebu to include the cities Carcar and Danao, and the municipality of San Fernando[1].[2]
The provincial capitol, the central business district, major educational institutions and the international port are all located in Cebu City while major industrial companies and factories are located in Mandaue City. The international airport and the export processing zone are located in Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan Island. Danao City is primarily a mining city while Talisay City is a residential city with its income generated by small and medium sized businesses.
Built-Up Area
| City | Population¹ | Area (km²) | Pop. density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu City | 798,809 | 279.45 | 2,859 |
| Lapu-Lapu City | 292,530 | 59.23 | 4,939 |
| Mandaue City | 318,575 | 28.88 | 11,031 |
| Talisay City | 179,359 | 42.22 | 4,248 |
| Consolacion | 87,544 | 42.05 | 2,082 |
| Cordova | 45,066 | 8.46 | 5,327 |
| Liloan | 92,181 | 45.09 | 2,044 |
| Minglanilla | 101,585 | 48.97 | 2,074.43 |
| Total Built-Up Area | 1,915,649 | 554.4 | 3,456 |
The eight cities and municipalities that make-up the urban built-up area of Metro Cebu have a total population of 1,915,649 (Census 2007) on 554.4 km² of built-up land. This results in an average density of 3,456 inhabitants/km².
History
Cebu was a prosperous fishing village and farming settlement. It had trade relations with China and other countries in Southeast Asia.
On April 7, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu. Magellan, however, failed to successfully claim the Philippines for the crown of Spain, having been slain in neighboring Mactan Island on April 27, 1521 by its chieftain Lapu-lapu.
On April 27, 1565, Miguel López de Legazpi landed in Cebu. Legazpi renamed the city on January 1, 1571, from San Miguel to Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus. During this six year period, Cebu City was the capital of the newly established Spanish colony.
Mandaue City then was known as the "Cove of Cebu." It was formally constituted into a “pueblo” between 1580 to 1700 and was officially known as the town of Mandaue in the year 1899. It emerged into an industrial city of Mandaue. Mandaue became a chartered city on June 21, 1969 through Republic Act 5519. It was considered a highly-urbanized city in the year 1991.
The City of Talisay used to be an Agustinian estate in 1648 but only became a municipality in 1849. On December 30, 2000, Talisay became a component city by virtue of Republic Act 8979.
Lapu-Lapu City was originally referred to as "Mactan." It later became the town of Opon in 1730, the 7th town founded by the Augustinians in Cebu. "Opon" was the name of the place for centuries. The town of Opon became a city on June 17, 1961 and was named Lapu-Lapu City after its hero, Lapu-Lapu, the first Filipino to defy foreign aggression.
The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-Day Saints built their second Philippine temple in Cebu. It has also been made known to the public through a press release that a much larger temple is in the works in an adjacent lot in Barangay Lahug.
Creation
Metropolitan Cebu was conceptualized by government planners in the 1970's and was based on experiences of urban planning in Metro Manila. Metro Cebu represented the province's thriving urban centers that are physically proximate to Cebu City which is the leading commercial and financial hub in the Visayas and northern Mindanao areas with a population largely dependent on the economic opportunities prevailing in the area.
People
Ancestry
The people of Cebu are called Cebuanos and are of Visayan descent, many of whom are of Austronesian, Chinese, and/or Japanese ancestries. Most of the Chinese Filipinos in Metro Cebu trace their ancestry from Fujian, China. Lately, the Koreans have become the largest non-Chinese minority group living in Metro Cebu.
The Chinese community play an important economic and political role in Cebu. It is said to be the only city in the country having a large Chinese community living for centuries where there is no Chinatown.
Languages
Cebuano is the most commonly-used conversational language in Metro Cebu. English is used as the medium of instruction in educational institutions and business transactions. Cebuanos also know how to speak Tagalog, which is taught in schools as Filipino, and some can also speak other Visayan languages like Waray-Waray and Ilonggo. Many Cebuanos of Chinese ancestry speak Fukien or Amoy, the dialect of China's Fujian Province (from where many of the Chinese Filipino came or descended from).
Religions
The majority of the Filipinos residing in Cebu are Christians, mostly Roman Catholics and Protestants. Islam is also professed, particularly by the Maranao. Although a majority of Chinese Filipinos or "Chinoys", as they are more commonly known, are Christians; some practice Taoism and Buddhism. There is a very minimal presence of Indians in Metro Cebu and most of whom practice Hinduism.
Education
Metro Cebu is the seat of well-known and highly-regarded educational institutions in the country.
These includes:
- University of San Carlos (1595)
- University of San Jose-Recoletos (1947)
- Cebu Doctors' University (1975)
- University of Cebu (1964)
Other note-worthy universities and colleges include:
- University of the Philippines, Visayas - Cebu College (1918)
- Cebu Normal University (1915)
- Southwestern University (1946)
- University of the Visayas (1919)
- Velez College (1957)
- Cebu Institute of Technology (1946)
- University of Southern Philippines - Foundation
- Asian College of Technology
A large number of students from the neighboring provinces of Bohol and Misamis Oriental prefer to go to Metro Cebu to take up tertiary-level education.
There is also a sizable number of South Korean and Iranian students who take up tertiary-level courses in Metro Cebu. Most of these Koreans came here to learn the basics of conversational English while the majority these Iranians study Medicine and other medical-related courses.
Many of Metro Cebu's colleges and universities have multiple campuses. The University of San Jose - Recoletos, for example, established a campus in the southern area of Cebu City while the University of Cebu has three campuses (Banilad, Downtown, and Mandaue).
Cebu has two internationally-connected educational institutions. They are: the Cebu International School, which is located in Sitio Pit-os, Barangay Talamban and the Center for International Education (CIE), which is a secondary-level educational institution offering some tertiary-level courses.
Places
City of Cebu
Cebu City itself is the country's oldest Spanish settlement, predating Manila by more than 20 years when the Spanish administration decided to transfer the capital to Luzon island. Colon in the downtown area is the country's oldest street.
The downtown area, the old commercial center of the city, has the highest concentration of historical relics from the colonial past. Parian district, in the eastern end of Colon, is the city's and country's oldest settlement. Casa Gorordo, nearby, along Lopez Jaena St., still retains most of its original form and structure. It houses a museum and an art gallery.
A few meters due south, stands a tableau of the past, called the Heritage. It is a bronze sculpture commemorating the historic events that unfolded since the arrival of Spanish conquistadors and the battle that ensued between Ferdinand Magellan and Lapu-Lapu.
The Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is just two blocks due south of the tableau. The church may not be the oldest in Cebu but its facade and much of its walls and altar still retain the architectural splendor of the colonial period.
Another downtown landmark is the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. It is the second oldest church in the Philippines, after Bohol's Baclayon Church. It houses the country's oldest religious icon, the image of Señor Sto. Niño (Holy Child Jesus).
Standing at the south entrance of the basilica is one of Cebu's most famous landmarks, the Magellan's Cross. The cross was planted by Ferdinand Magellan to mark the beginning of the Christianization of Cebu. It is now housed inside an octagonal kiosk and remains to be the most visited historic spot in Cebu.
A few steps from the basilica is the country's oldest and smallest fort, the Fort San Pedro. Adjacent to the fort is a public park, Plaza Independencia (Freedom Square).
Occupying one entire city block, the University of San Carlos, founded in 1595, is the country's oldest school. It is located near the downtown area flanked from four sides by P. del Rosario St. to the north, Junquera St. to the east, Pelaez St. to the west and Sanciangko St. to the south. The university museum holds some of the most extensive collections of pre-historic artifacts in the country.
The imposing Cebu Provincial Capitol, a domed palatial government complex lies at the northern end of Osmeña Boulevard. It is the seat of the Cebu provincial government where the provincial governor holds office. It is one of the most beautiful provincial capitols in the Philippines, it was built during the American period and was patterned after the United States Capitol. Seals of American Commonwealth of the Philippines can still be found around the capitol. Sharing the compound is a multi-storey structure called the Palace of Justice directly behind the capitol which houses various services of the Justice Department, among which are: the Regional Trial Court offices, Provincial Fiscal's Office, Office of the Ombudsman, Parole and Probation Office.
Up the Beverly Hills, stands the postcard-perfect Taoist Temple, a proud symbol of Chinese influence on Cebuano cultural heritage. It houses the teachings of one of ancient China’s great philosophers, Lao-Tse. Its 81 steps represent the 81 chapters of his teachings. The temple is actually a cluster of three temples, the grandest of which is the topmost temple, commanding an awesome view of the city below.
Further up Busay Hills, passing through wealthy enclaves and lush mountains, is the city's highest point, dubbed as "The Tops." It commands a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. The place is a favorite destination during hot summers where cool fresh air is a welcome treat.
Other Cities of Metro Cebu
Mandaue
In Mandaue City one can find a life-size tableau of the Last Supper inside the St. Joseph Church. The sprawling brewery complex of San Miguel Beer, along Highway Seno, is the largest brewery outside of the island of Luzon. Mandaue City has the largest concentration of furniture and fashion jewelry factories anywhere in Cebu. A tour to any of the factories should have a prior arrangement with the management.
Lapu-Lapu
Lapu-Lapu City is famous for its white sand beaches and world renowned diving and snorkeling spots. Many upscale hotels and resorts are located in this island such as the Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort & Spa, [Plantation Bay Resort & Spa], and [Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa], among others.
The Magellan Shrine and Lapu Lapu Shrine stand on Punta Engaño, site of the Battle of Mactan. Nearby, is the famous Sutukil, a row of eateries that specialize in three of Cebuanos' favorite seafood preparations — grilled (sugba), stewed (tuwa) and pickled (kilaw). Lapu-Lapu City is also famous for its thriving guitar making industry. Guitar factories, mostly backyard types, abound in Mactan Island.
Talisay
Talisay, a newly chartered city is the old resort town. It was the landing site of the Japanese forces during the WWII, paving the way for the eventual occupation of Cebu. It was also the landing site of the American forces in March 1945 that marked the eventual surrender of the Japanese forces in Cebu.
The city is also home to the renowned Talisay 'lechon' (roasted pig) --- arguably the best-tasting 'lechon' in the Philippines.
Car-car
Carcar is famous for its centuries old buildings such as the historical 17th-Century St. Catherine Church which is the second oldest church in Metro Cebu, the Carcar Rotunda, Villadolid Watchtower and several old houses that are being restored. One such house is those belonging to the Sanchez family, which is ten years older than the church in Carcar. The Balay na Tisa of the Sarmiento family, older by 17 years than the Sanchez’s house, is one of the best and painstakingly restored ancestral houses.
Another interesting place to go are the three caves in Barangay Mainit — four kilometers from the city proper going uphill through the Carcar-Barili road. Upon reaching the cave sites, one can see broken statues of Christ, of saints and of crosses dispersed all over the area. The presence of these statues was due to Imelda Marcos’ plan of transforming these caves into a shrine. The statues were brought by helicopters, but in the process of transporting, some of the icons fell, breaking some of its parts, while the others remained intact. These caves are said to be explored by local healers and mystics during Holy Week.
The city is also known for its renowned shoe manufacturing industry and its famous 'chicharon' (crispy pork skin).
Shopping Areas
Ayala Center Cebu (which includes Rustan's Department Store and Rustan's Fresh Supermarket) and SM City Cebu are Metro Cebu's two largest (in terms of total leasable area) and most popular shopping centers.
Aside from these two major malls, Metro Cebu has other full-fledged shopping centers. They are: Gaisano Country Mall, Robinson's Place - Cebu, Colonnade Mall, Mango Square, the Elizabeth Mall, Gaisano Mall Mactan, Marina Mall Mactan, Gaisano Central Fiesta Mall Tabunok, and A! I.T. Mall.
Metro Cebu also has a number of strip malls. They are: the Raintree Mall, The Walk, The Gallery, Coco Mall, QC Pavilion, Rivergate Mall, Century Plaza Complex, Banilad Town Centre, Paseo Mabolo, Paseo Talisay, and the Rosedale Suites.
There are six stand-alone department stores in the metropolis, namely: Gaisano Metro Colon, Gaisano Central, Gaisano Metro Mandaue, Gaisano Main, Gaisano Danao and Gaisano Price Club - Car-car.
There are two hypermart-chains in Metro Cebu. They are: Fooda Savers Mart-chain and the Uni-Top-chain.
Warehouse-type supercenters are also common in the metro. They are: Pilipinas Makro - Cebu, Prince Warehouse Mandaue, Prince Warehouse Danao, Prince Warehouse Tabunok, Prince Warehouse @ Tiangge-Tiangge, and The Parkmall @ 168.
There are, currently, two shopping areas that are either on-hold or under-construction within Metro Cebu, they are: Ciudad (status: on-hold) and Cebu Boardwalk Mall (status: under-construction).
Metro Cebu has a lot of markets, locally called mercado. Carbon Market, or simply "Carbon" to the locals, is Cebu City's biggest open-air market. It occupies seven city blocks of market space on the waterfront where almost anything is traded. Traders converge here to sell vegetables, fruits, fish, dried fish, fresh/processed pork meat, fresh/processed beef cuts, live chicken, chicken cutlets, skinned chicken, human-teeth, "ukay-ukay" clothes, silver-wares, tupperwares, ropes, strings, plastic bags, net-weaved bags, and empty plastic sacks at bargain prices.
Tabo-an Market, located in the Pahina Central district, is another open-air market that specializes in the selling of dried fish — locally known as "danggit." Meanwhile, the Pasil Fish Port and Market in Barangay Pasil is Cebu City's largest fish-catch public market. Other major Metro Cebu markets include the public markets of Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Consolacion as well as the newly-renovated Ramos Market.
Events
2004 Presidential Inauguration
On June 30, 2004, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the first Philippine President to be inaugurated in Metro Cebu. The inauguration was done in front of Cebu Provincial Capitol in Cebu City. This was done in gratitude for the support given to her by the people of Cebu during the election. In a break with tradition, she delivered her inaugural address in Manila before departing for Cebu for her inauguration.
2005 Southeast Asian Games
Metro Cebu and other key Philippine cities hosted the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. The event was held from November 27 to December 5, 2005. Venues for this event includes the Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu Coliseum, Mandaue Coliseum, University of San Carlos and parts of Danao City.
2006 ASEAN Summit
The 12th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), originally scheduled for Dec. 10-14 was postponed to January 2007 due to Typhoon Utor. The decision was made in consideration of the safety and welfare of the participants. [5]
The Cebu International Convention Center is a structure built by the Cebu provincial government in time for the 12th ASEAN Summit and 2nd East Asia Summit at a cost of around US$10-million dollars, US$5-million dollars more than expected. It is a three-storey structure with a total floor area of 25,000 square meters and situated on 3.8 hectares of land at the Mandaue City Reclamation Area.
Public Utilities
Communication
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is the major phone carrier in the metropolis and the entire province. Globelines Innove and Islacom, both subsidiaries of Globe Telecom came in after the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1995.
There are three wireless telecommunication companies serving Metro Cebu as well as the rest of the Philippines. These are:
- Smart Communications/Pilipino Telecommunications Corp., a PLDT subsidiary — using the brands: Smart, Talk 'n' Text, and Addict Mobile
- Globe Telecom — using the brands: Globe and TM
- Digitel Mobile — using the brand Sun Cellular
Electricity
Metro Cebu's electricity is mostly supplied from Leyte Geothermal Power Plants operated by PNOC-EDC which is interconnected across Cebu thru electrical submarine cables operated by TransCo. It is transmitted by the state-owned National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) through several high tension wires. It is stored and distributed by the Visayan Electric Company They put out 220VAC 60 Hz(VECO).
Water
In 1974 the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) took over in distributing potable water to the whole metropolis after the Osmena Waterworks System suffered financial losses. MCWD supplies potable water to the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-lapu and Talisay and the municipalities of Consolacion, Lilo-an, Compostela and Cordova from their reservoirs in Talamban and Pardo in Cebu City, Casili in Consolacion and Mananga in Talisay City.
Water shortage has always been a problem in Metro Cebu due to deforestation and seawater intrusion of the underground water supply.[3] There was a proposal to acquire water from nearby Bohol island because of the water crisis in the metropolis. [6]
In 1998, the Mananga Phase I Project located in Talisay City was completed producing an additional 33,000 cu.m or 33 million liters of potable water per day.
Transportation
See also: Transportation in the Philippines
Roads & Highways
Metro Cebu's roadways are among the country's busiest. The south highway, Osmena Boulevard, Colon, and V. Rama are Metro Cebu's major roads. A new highway which is the South Coastal Road or the Cebu Coastal Road is almost complete. The 12 kilometer, 4-lane highway was created to improve traffic in Metro Cebu. It connects Cebu City, Talisay City and other southern municipalities. In conjunction with the development of the Cebu South Coastal Road, a roadway underpass nearly a kilometer long is currently under construction to connect the South Coastal Road with the Sergio Osmeña Avenue in the North Reclamation Area. Other planned projects include a series of flyovers in the north district, the Cebu North Coastal Road and Cloverleaf interlink road project.
The resort island of Mactan is connected to the island of Cebu via two bridges. The Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the, much older, Mactan-Mandaue Bridge. A 3rd Cebu-Mactan link is being proposed by the local leaders of Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu, citing the growing inconveniences related to the existing two steel bridges. It has not yet been decided what mode this link would be (an undersea-tunnel or a bridge).
Airport
Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is, officially, the only international airport in the Visayas and the only airport in the Metro Cebu. Located in Lapu-Lapu City, it is the second busiest airport in the Philippines, after Metro Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It also doubles as the Mactan-Ebuen Air Base.
Its current terminal complex is capable of handling and serving 4 million air passengers annually.
The number of weekly international flights to and from MCIA has constantly increased over the years. Currently, there are direct regular and/or charter flights to the following international destinations: Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo-Narita, Seoul-Incheon, Busan, Taipei, Palau, Shanghai-Pudong and Doha. There are also chartered and extra flights to Busan and Kaohsiung.
Metro Cebu's MCIA is the international gateway to the economic hub of the Central and Southern Philippines. There are numerous daily flights between Cebu and most Philippine cities. Air freight to and from Cebu is reliable and efficient with major international couriers like FedEx, Fastpak Global Express, and 2GO operating here.
A new terminal has been proposed. This planned terminal will only be used by airlines flying international routes to/from MCIA.
Seaport
Metro Cebu's Port of Cebu is the secong busiest seaport in the Philippines. Along with the ports areas of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, Cebu's "seaport complex" is considered as the busiest port in the Philippines in terms of number of annual passengers. It is also the main port of entry in the province of Cebu and Central Visayas Region. It plays a vital role in the Philippine's shipping industry with about 80 percent of the country's shipping companies that are based here. The port is located at the center of the province's east coast. It is nestled in a natural harbor in the narrow strait between Cebu City and Mactan Island, the latter providing a natural cover and breakwater, making the port one of the safest and operational the whole year round.
Cebu International Port and Cebu Domestic Port serves container vessels and passenger ships with destinations around the country and the world. Cebu International Port is a multipurpose terminal covering an area of 10 hectares with 690 meters of berthing space and a controlling draught of minus 8.5 meters at MLLW. The Cebu Baseport — Domestic Zone is the area for the domestic transactions of different business coming from and going to the different island of the archipelago. It is dedicated to coastwise shipping with 3.5 kilometers of berthing space, 3 finger piers and 3 passenger terminals.
Metropolitan Cebu Development Council
The Metropolitan Cebu Development Council was created by the RDC through Resolution No.117 (1997) and was patterned after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. It is mandated to formulate development plans, prepare programs and projects, and coordinate/monitor the implementation of programs and projects that address problems and concerns affecting Metro Cebu.
The MCDC is composed of the Provincial Governor of Cebu; the Mayors of the Cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapulapu and Talisay; and the Mayors of the Municipalities of Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cordova, Minglanilla and Naga City. The Governor of Cebu acts as Interim Chairman of the Council.
Last August 2005, the Regional Development Council (RDC 7) of Central Visayas, composed of all the governors of Region VII, the Metropolitan Cebu Development Council headed by the Cebu Provincial Governor and Local Government Units of Metro Cebu expanded the definition of Metro Cebu to include the towns of San Fernando and Carcar City in the south and Danao City in the north [7].
Member-LGUs of the MCDC believe the commercial and industrial area of Cebu has already expanded to the towns of San Fernando and Carcar City and to Danao City.
MCDC does not have legal and institutional powers and resources like the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). The MCDC defines the coverage of Metro Cebu for planning purposes only. The Province of Cebu has proposed a bill to create a permanent Metropolitan Cebu Development Authority (MCDA). This bill is still pending in both the Congress and Senate.[4]
See also
References
External links
 Province of Cebu | |
|---|---|
Cebu City (capital and largest city) | |
| Municipalities |
|
| Component cities | |
| Highly urbanized cities | (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Cebu by the Philippine Statistics Authority. However, qualified voters in Mandaue are allowed to vote in elections for Cebu provincial officials by virtue of Republic Act No. 6641, in accordance with Section 452-c of the Local Government Code of 1991.) |