View source for Metro Cebu

{{Short description|Metropolitan area in the Philippines}}
{{About||the article on the Province of Cebu|Cebu|its capital independent chartered city|Cebu City|other uses|Cebu (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Metro Cebu
| native_name        = {{native name|ceb|Kaulohang Sugbo}}
| official_name      = Metropolitan Cebu
| settlement_type    = [[Metropolitan area]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 300
| caption_align            = center
| perrow                   = 1/2/2/2/1
| image1                   = Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park.jpg
| alt1                          = Skyline 
| caption1                    = (From South to North): Skyline of [[Cebu IT Park]], [[Cebu Business Park]], [[Cebu City|Uptown Area]], and the farthest northern part [[South Road Properties]]. 
| image2                   = Plaza Sugbu, Magellan's Cross drone view (Cebu City; 01-21-2025).jpg
| alt2                          = Plaza Sugbu 
| caption2                    = [[Plaza Sugbu]]
| image3                   = Museo Sugbu (MJ Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City; 09-07-2022).jpg
| alt3                          = Museo Sugbu
| caption3                    = [[Cebu City|Museo Sugbu]] 
| image4                   = CCLEX Main Bridge with Cebu Skyline.jpg
| alt4                          = CCLEX
| caption4                    = [[Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway]]
| image5                   = Legazpi Monument, Plaza Independencia Cebu(49093354923).jpg
| alt5                          = Plaza Independencia 
| caption5                    = [[Plaza Independencia (Cebu City)|Plaza Independencia]] 
| image6                    = St. Catherine of Alexandria Church Carcar (façade) - Flickr.jpg
| alt6                          = Carcar City Cebu
| caption6                 = [[Carcar City|St. Catherine of Alexandria Church]] 
| image7                   = Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Tabunok (Talisay, Cebu; 01-20-2024).jpg
| alt7                          = Natalio Bacalso Ave
| caption7                    = [[Natalio Bacalso Avenue|N. Bacalso Avenue]] 
| image8                      = Metro Cebu from air wide (Cebu; 12-09-2023).jpg
| alt8                             = Aerial
| caption8                    = Aerial view of Metro Cebu
}}
| image_caption      = 
| image_map          = {{PH wikidata|image_map}}
| map_caption        = {{PH wikidata|map_caption}}
| image_map1         = {{hidden begin|title=OpenStreetMap|ta1=center}}{{Infobox mapframe|frame-width=250}}{{hidden end}}
| pushpin_map        = Philippines
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Philippines
| coordinates        = {{PH wikidata|coordinates}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{PH wikidata|country}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of the Philippines|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{nowrap|[[Central Visayas]] (Region VII)}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[Provinces of the Philippines|Province]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Cebu]] {{small|(geographically only)}}
| subdivision_type3  = Managing entity
| subdivision_name3  = [[Metropolitan Cebu Development and Coordinating Board]]
| seat_type          = 
| seat               = 
| total_type         = Metro
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=nscb>{{cite web |title=Province: Cebu |url=http://nap.psa.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/province.asp?provcode=072200000&regCode=07&regName=REGION+VII+%28Central+Visayas%29 |website=Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) |publisher=Philippine Statistics Authority |access-date=8 February 2018 |location=Quezon City, Philippines}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = {{PH wikidata|area}}
| elevation_m        = 17
| population_footnotes = {{PH census|current}}
| population_total   = 3,165,799
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_blank1_title = {{PH wikidata|electorate_title}}
| population_blank1  = {{PH wikidata|electorate}}
| population_blank2_title = Language
| population_blank2  = {{PH wikidata|language}}
| population_demonym = {{PH wikidata|demonym}}
| population_note    = 
| demographics_type1 = Divisions
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = [[Cities of the Philippines|Highly urbanized cities]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle             = font-weight:normal;text-align:left;background-color:WhiteSmoke;
 | title                  = 3
 |{{plainlist|
* [[Cebu City]]
* [[Lapu-Lapu, Philippines|Lapu-Lapu]]
* [[Mandaue]]
 }} }}
| demographics1_title2 = [[Cities of the Philippines|Component cities]]
| demographics1_info2 = {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle             = font-weight:normal;text-align:left;background-color:WhiteSmoke;
 | title                  = 4
 |{{plainlist|
* [[Carcar]]
* [[Danao, Cebu|Danao]]
* [[Naga, Cebu|Naga]]
* [[Talisay, Cebu|Talisay]]
 }} }}
| demographics1_title3 = [[Municipalities of the Philippines|Municipalities]]
| demographics1_info3 = {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle             = font-weight:normal;text-align:left;background-color:WhiteSmoke;
 | title                  = 6
 | {{plainlist|
* [[Compostela, Cebu|Compostela]]
* [[Consolacion]]
* [[Cordova, Cebu|Cordova]]
* [[Liloan, Cebu|Liloan]]
* [[Minglanilla, Cebu|Minglanilla]]
* [[San Fernando, Cebu|San Fernando]]
 }} }}
| demographics1_title4 = [[Barangay]]s
| demographics1_info4 = 349
| timezone           = [[Philippine Standard Time|PST]]
| utc_offset         = +8
| postal_code_type   = [[List of ZIP codes in the Philippines|ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = {{PH wikidata|postal_code}}
| area_code_type     = {{areacodestyle}}
| area_code          = {{PH wikidata|area_code}}
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Metropolitan Cebu''', or simply '''Metro Cebu''' ({{langx|ceb|Kaulohang Sugbo}}; {{langx|fil|Kalakhang Cebu}}), is the main urban center of the 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 19.9 percent of the land area and 61.5 percent of the population (2020 census) of the entire province of [[Cebu]].

Metro Cebu is a [[metropolitan area]] that consists of [[Cebu City]] (the capital of Cebu and the regional center of [[Central Visayas]]) along with twelve surrounding cities and municipalities.

The [[Metropolitan Cebu Development and Coordinating Board]] (MCDCB) is a body mandated to formulate development plans for the Metro Cebu area and coordinate their implementation. Unlike the [[Metropolitan Manila Development Authority]], the MCDCB does not have legal and institutional powers.  However, MMDA's powers are limited by jurisdiction to only the core of the agglomeration.

As of the 2020 census, Metro Cebu is the largest metropolitan area in the [[Visayas]] and the third-largest metropolitan area by urban population in the Philippines, after [[Metro Manila]] (in [[Luzon]]) and [[Metro Davao]] (in [[Mindanao]]).

==Cities and municipalities==
Metro Cebu comprises seven cities ([[Carcar, Cebu|Carcar]], [[Cebu City]], [[Danao, Cebu|Danao]], [[Lapu-Lapu, Philippines|Lapu-Lapu]], [[Mandaue]], [[Naga, Cebu|Naga]], [[Talisay, Cebu|Talisay]]) and six municipalities ([[Compostela, Cebu|Compostela]], [[Consolacion, Cebu|Consolacion]], [[Cordova, Cebu|Cordova]], [[Liloan, Cebu|Liloan]], [[Minglanilla, Cebu|Minglanilla]], [[San Fernando, Cebu|San Fernando]]), with Cebu City serving as the metropolitan area's central core. 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]]. The [[Mactan–Cebu International Airport|international airport]] and the export processing zone are located in [[Lapu-Lapu City|Lapu-Lapu]] on [[Mactan|Mactan Island]]. [[Danao, Cebu|Danao]] is primarily a mining city while [[Talisay, Cebu|Talisay]] is a residential city with its income generated by small- and medium-sized businesses. 

[[File:Cebu Metropolitan Region map.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The metropolitan core (dark [[cyan]]) is the most densely populated area and the most [[Conurbation|conurbated]]. The brightest area on the map is the other cities.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! rowspan="2" |City/Town
! rowspan="2" |Population 
(2020)
! colspan="2" |Land Area
! colspan="2" |Population Density
! rowspan="2" |Classification
|-
!Sq. Km.
!Sq. Mi.
!Sq. Km
!Sq. Mi.
|-
|[[Cebu City]]
|964,169
|315.00
|121.62
|3,060.85
|7,927.58
|Highly 
urbanized 
city
|-
|[[Lapu-Lapu City]]
|497,604
|58.10
|22.43
|8,564,61
|22,182.25
|Highly 
urbanized 
city
|-
|[[Mandaue|Mandaue City]]
|364,116
|34.87
|13.46
|10,442.10
|27,044.91
|Highly 
urbanized 
city
|-
|[[Talisay, Cebu|Talisay City]]
|263,048
|39.87
|15.39
|6,597.64
|17,087.82
|Component 
city
|-
|[[Danao, Cebu|Danao]]
|156,321
|107.30
|41.43
|1,456.86
|3,773.25
|Component 
city
|-
|[[Liloan, Cebu|Liloan]]
|153,197
|45.92
|17.73
|3,336.17
|8,640.64
|Municipality
|-
|[[Minglanilla]]
|151,002
|65.60
|25.33
|2,301.86
|5,961.79
|Municipality
|-
|[[Consolacion]]
|148,012
|37.03
|14.30
|3,997.08
|10,352.40
|Municipality
|-
|[[Carcar]]
|136,453
|116.78
|45.09
|1,168.46
|3,026.30
|Component 
city
|-
|[[Naga, Cebu|Naga City]]
|133,184
|101.97
|39.37
|1,306.11
|3,382.81
|Component
city
|-
|[[San Fernando, Cebu|San Fernando]]
|72,224
|69.39
|26.79
|1,040.84
|2,695.77
|Municipality
|-
|[[Cordova, Cebu|Cordova]]
|70,595
|17.15
|6.62
|4,116.33
|10,661.24
|Municipality
|-
|[[Compostela, Cebu|Compostela]]
|55,874
|53.90
|20.81
|1,036.62
|2,684.84
|Municipality
|-
|'''Total /''' 
'''Average'''
|'''3,165,799'''
|'''1,062.88'''
|'''410.38'''
|'''2,978.51'''
|'''7,714.31'''
|
|}

==History==
Cebu City was a fishing village and farming settlement governed by Visayan native kings who traded with the neighboring islands of [[Malaysia]] and [[Indonesia]]. Cebu was the location of the [[Rajahnate of Cebu]], an Indianized kingdom founded by the half Indian and half Malay, [[Sri Lumay]], from [[Sumatra]].

On 7 April 1521, Portuguese explorer [[Ferdinand Magellan]] arrived in Cebu. Magellan failed to successfully claim the Philippines for the crown of Spain as he was killed on Mactan island on 27 April 1521, by its leader, Datu [[Lapu-lapu]].

On 27 April 1565, Spanish explorers led by [[Miguel López de Legazpi]] arrived in Cebu from Mexico. The Spaniards renamed the city on 1 January 1571, from San Miguel (Saint Michael) to Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesús (Town of the Most Holy Name of Jesus). The island were a former capital city of the [[Spanish East Indies]] before the capital city was moved to [[Manila]] in 1571.

[[Mandaue]] then was known as Mandani ruled by their lord '''Aponoan'''. It was formally constituted into a "pueblo" (people) between 1580 and 1700 and was officially known as the Población de Mandaue (Town of Mandaue) in 1899. It emerged into the industrial city of Mandaue. Mandaue became a chartered city on 21 June 1969 through Republic Act 5519. It was considered a highly urbanized city in the year 1991.

Talisay was a former [[Augustinian order]] [[hacienda]] (estate) in 1648 and became a municipality in 1849. On 30 December 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 Augustinian Friars in Cebu. The town of Opon became a city on 17 June 1961. Its largest district, Lapu-Lapu, was named after Datu Lapu-Lapu.

Metropolitan Cebu was conceptualized by government planners in the 1970s and was based on the 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 [[Cebuano people|Cebuanos]], which are [[Visayans|Visayan people]] (''Bisaya''). Some also have [[Chinese Filipino|Chinese]], [[Japanese in the Philippines|Japanese]], [[Indian Filipino|Indian]] and other foreign ancestries as well as ancestries from other [[Ethnic groups in the Philippines|Filipino]] ethnic groups.

===Languages===
[[Cebuano language|Cebuano Bisaya]] is the most common [[Vernacular|casual vernacular language]] spoken in Metro Cebu. [[Philippine English|English]] is commonly used as a [[Prestige (sociolinguistics)|formal language]] in educational institutions and business transactions. Other languages also spoken include [[Chinese language|Chinese]] (such as [[Philippine Hokkien]], usually by [[Chinese Filipino|Chinese Filipinos]]), [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] ([[Filipino language|Filipino]]) via Filipino [[mass media]] and Filipino [[Class (education)|class]], though Tagalog not as widely spoken as Cebuano even though it is spoken through most of the rest of Cebu province, as taught in schools in Cebu and a range of other [[Visayan languages]] from neighboring regions and islands. [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] ([[Standard Chinese]]) is also taught in Chinese class of [[Chinese school|Chinese Filipino schools]] and few other schools in Cebu.

==Education==
{{Main|List of colleges and universities in Metro Cebu}}

Metro Cebu is the seat of more than a dozen educational institutions, the oldest of which is the [[University of San Carlos]]. Some of these institutions include, in alphabetical order:
*[[Asian College of Technology]] (1988)
*[[Cebu Doctors' University]] (1975)
*[[Cebu Eastern College]] (1915)
*[[Cebu Institute of Medicine]] (1957)
*[[Cebu Institute of Technology – University]] (1946)
*[[Cebu Normal University]] (1902)
*[[Cebu Technological University]] (1911)
*[[Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion]] (1880)
*[[Don Bosco Technical College–Cebu]] (1954)
*[[Saint Theresa's College of Cebu]] (1933)
*[[Southwestern University (Philippines)|Southwestern University]] (1946)
*[[University of Cebu]] (1964)
*[[University of San Carlos]] (1595)
*[[University of San Jose–Recoletos]] (1947)
*[[University of Southern Philippines Foundation]] (1927)
*[[University of the Philippines Cebu]] (1918)
*[[University of the Visayas]] (1919)
*[[Velez College]] (1957)

[[File:Cebu Doctors University (exterior).jpg|thumb|right|[[Cebu Doctors' University]] situated in Mandaue City]]

A large number of students from neighboring provinces in the [[Visayas]], as well as northern [[Mindanao]], prefer to go to Metro Cebu to take up tertiary-level education.

There is also a sizable number of South Korean, Iranian, Sub-Saharan African, and South Indian students who take up tertiary-level courses in Metro Cebu, taking advantage of Metro Cebu's, and the Philippines', lower cost of education relative to their home countries.

Cebu has four internationally connected educational institutions: [[Cebu International School]] and CIE British School are located in [[Cebu City]]; [[Singapore School Manila|Singapore School Cebu]] and Woodridge International School are located in [[Mandaue]].

== Healthcare ==
Metro Cebu also has several hospitals and clinics, there are two types of hospitals in Metro Cebu: the public hospitals which is owned by the government. Some public hospitals in Metro Cebu are the [[Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center]], Cebu City Medical Center and there are also few public district hospitals which are also managed by the provincial government of Cebu.

Some of the private hospitals in Metro Cebu are the [[Chong Hua Hospital]], [[Cebu Doctors' University Hospital]], University of Cebu Medical Center, Perpetual Succor Hospital and [[Cebu Institute of Medicine]] Hospital.

== Events ==

===2004 presidential inauguration===

[[File:arroyo inauguration.jpg|thumb|right|Arroyo taking her Oath of Office in [[Cebu City]] on 30 June 2004]]
On 30 June 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 27 November to 5 December 2005.  Venues for this event includes the Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu Coliseum, Mandaue Coliseum, University of San Carlos and parts of [[Danao, Cebu|Danao]].

The Philippine [[SEA Games]] Committee wanted to decentralize the games from Manila, so that other cities of the country could experience the SEA Games. 

Metro Cebu hosted six sports. 

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Sport !! Venue !! City
|-
| [[Dancesport]] || [[Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino]] || rowspan="3" | Cebu City
|-
| [[Pencak Silat]] || [[Cebu Coliseum]] 
|-
| [[Sepak Takraw]] || University of San Carlos
|-
| [[Judo]] || rowspan="2" | Mandaue Coliseum || rowspan="2" | Mandaue City 
|-
| [[Karate]] 
|-
| [[Mountain Biking]] || Ramon M. Durano Sports Complex || Danao City
|}

===2007 ASEAN Summit and 2nd East Asia Summit===

The 12th Summit of the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN), originally scheduled for 10–14 December 2006 was postponed to January 2007 due to [[Typhoon Utor (2006)|Typhoon Utor]] and the consideration of the safety and welfare of the participants.  [http://www.12thaseansummit.org.ph/innertemplate3.asp?category=news&newsid=319]

The [[Cebu International Convention Center]] is a structure built by the [[Cebu province|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 {{convert|25,000|m2}} and situated on {{convert|3.8|ha}} of land at the Mandaue Reclamation Area.

=== 51st International Eucharistic Congress ===

The [[51st International Eucharistic Congress|2016 International Eucharistic Congress]], held on 24–31 January 2016, was a gathering of Roman Catholic priests, bishops, lay people, nuns and representatives from different parts of the world. The 8-day congress was observed with religious activities like cathechisis, processions and seminars, It was ended with a Statio Orbis or Closing Mass held at South Road Properties on 31 January 2016, it was attended by the Papal Legate, Cardinal [[Charles Maung Bo]].

==Utilities==
[[File:Cebu City Skyline 2022.png|thumb|362x362px|The skyline of Cebu City in 2022, with the [[Cebu Business Park]], [[Cebu IT Park]], and the [[Cebu Exchange]] being prominent landmarks. [[Horizons 101]], the city's tallest building, and the [[Crown Regency Hotel and Towers]] can be seen from behind The Alcoves alongside the under-construction Johndorf Tower.]]
[[File:Skyline of Cebu City.jpg|thumb|275px|Skyline of Metropolitan Cebu as seen from [[Mactan Channel]] (2009)]]

===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, Sun Cellular, and Addict Mobile
* [[Globe Telecom]] – using the brands: Globe and TM
* [[Dito Telecommunity]] – using the brand Dito

===Electricity===
Metro Cebu's electricity is mostly supplied from Leyte Geothermal Power Plants operated by PNOC-EDC which is interconnected across Cebu through 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]] (VECO), except in the island of Mactan (Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova) which is served by the Mactan Electric Company, the city of Carcar, which is served by Cebu I Electric Cooperative (CEBECO I), and the city of Danao and the municipality of Compostela, which are served by Cebu II Electric Cooperative (CEBECO II). They put out 220VAC 50&nbsp;Hz.

===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, Liloan, Compostela and Cordova from their reservoirs in Lake Plumbero, Minglanilla; Buhisan Reservoir in Cebu City; Casili in Consolacion and Mananga in [[Talisay, Cebu|Talisay]].

[[Water shortage]] has always been a problem in Metro Cebu due to deforestation and seawater intrusion of the underground water supply.{{sfn|Scholze|Hillmer|Schneider|2002}} There was a proposal to acquire water from nearby [[Bohol]] island because of the [[Water scarcity|water crisis]] in the metropolis.{{sfn|Peñaranda|1998}}

In 1998, the Mananga Phase I Project located in Maghuway, Talisay was completed producing an additional {{convert|33,000|m3|l usgal}} of potable water per day. And the other area through a series of 5HP submersible pumps powered by Solar Electric Energy ''(note: Operates only during daytime)'' in Minglanilla near Lake Plumbero.

==Transportation==
{{See also|Transportation in Metro Cebu}}

===Roads===
{{main|List of streets in Cebu}}

[[File:Colon Street-Osmeña Boulevard intersection (Cebu City; 09-05-2022).jpg|thumb|[[Colon Street]] is the one the oldest road in the [[Philippines]]]]
Metro Cebu's roadways are among the country's busiest and most congested. The south highway, [[Osmeña Boulevard]], [[Colon Street]], and V. Rama are Metro Cebu's major roads. A new highway called the South Coastal Road or the Cebu Coastal Road was completed in 2010. The 12 kilometer, 4-lane highway was created to improve traffic in Metro Cebu. It connects Cebu City, Talisay and other southern municipalities. In conjunction with the development of the Cebu South Coastal Road, a roadway underpass nearly a kilometer long also connects the South Coastal Road with the Serging Osmeña Boulevard 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.

Mactan is connected to the island of Cebu via two bridges: the [[Marcelo Fernan Bridge]] and the much older, [[Mactan-Mandaue Bridge]].
The third Cebu-Mactan link which is the [[Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway|Cebu–Cordova Bridge]] is complete and was opened to the public in 2022.

===Airport===
[[File:MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AERIAL VIEW.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of [[Mactan–Cebu International Airport]] Terminal 1 at [[Lapu-Lapu City]].]]
[[Mactan–Cebu International Airport]] (MCIA) is, officially, the only airport in the Metro Cebu. Located in Lapu-Lapu, it is the second busiest airport in the Philippines, after Metro Manila's [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]].

It has two terminals. Terminal 1 is used solely for domestic flights, while Terminal 2, which was opened on July 1, 2018, serves international flights. Together the two terminals have a total capacity of 12.5 million.

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|Changi Airport]], [[Hong Kong Airport]], [[Narita Airport]], [[Kansai Airport]], [[Chūbu Centrair International Airport|Nagoya Airport]], [[Incheon Airport]], [[Busan Airport]], [[Taoyuan Airport]], [[Kuala Lumpur Airport]], [[Xiamen Airport]], [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai Airport]], [[Hamad International Airport|Doha]], [[Pudong Airport]], and [[Nanning Airport]].

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.

===Seaport===
Metro Cebu's [[Port of Cebu]] is the busiest domestic 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, 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.

=== Urban transit systems ===
The planned [[Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System|bus rapid transit system]] and [[Cebu Urban Mass Rapid Transit|Cebu UMRT]] aim to alleviate congestion in the metropolis. 

==Economy==
Metro Cebu, as the second most important metropolitan area of the Philippines, has established itself as a major economic hub, attracting several multinational companies in various industries ranging from [[business process outsourcing]], [[electronics]], [[pharmaceuticals]], and [[tourism]], among other industries. Metro Cebu, and Cebu province as a whole, has experienced rapid economic growth since the early 1990s, a phenomenon also known as [[Ceboom]], a portmanteau of "Cebu" and "boom".<ref>{{ cite news |last=Fajardo |first=Fernando |date=January 11, 2013 |title=Has 'Ceboom' returned? |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/338753/has-ceboom-returned |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113042653/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/338753/has-ceboom-returned |work=[[Cebu Daily News]] |archive-date=January 13, 2013}}</ref> [[Cebu City]], [[Lapu-Lapu City]], and [[Mandaue]], also collectively known as the "tri-cities", the three largest and highly urbanized cities of Metro Cebu, account for 22.2%, 11.3%, and 8.3% of [[Central Visayas]]' [[gross regional domestic product]] respectively {{as of|2020|lc=y}}.<ref>{{ cite web |date=December 4, 2021 |title=Province of Cebu Leads the Economy of Central Visayas with 30.7 Percent Share from 2018 to 2020 |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/province-cebu-leads-economy-central-visayas-307-percent-share-2018-2020 |work=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]] |accessdate=August 31, 2022 }}</ref>

Cebu City is the primary economic center of Metro Cebu. Historically, [[Colon Street]] and its surrounding areas collectively known as "Downtown Cebu", was the major economic center of Cebu, but development has since spread to other parts of Metro Cebu with the opening of newer and more modern developments such as [[Cebu Business Park]] and [[Cebu IT Park]] (collectively known as the ''Cebu Park District''), which is the home of many business processing outsourcing companies, among other industries. The [[South Road Properties]], a 300-hectare reclamation project in the [[Cebu City's 2nd congressional district|city's South district]] is poised to become a major economic hub for Metro Cebu.<ref>{{ cite news |last=Lorenciana |first=Carlo |date=October 22, 2021 |title=Cebu’s booming SRP district seen to create more jobs |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1157436 |work=[[Philippine News Agency]] |accessdate=August 31, 2022 }}</ref>

Major industrial factories are found in Mandaue, but the city's North Reclamation Area (also known as ''New Mandaue City'') has seen various [[mixed-use developments]] since the 2010s, including the [[Mandani Bay]] project.<ref>{{ cite news |last=Bunachita |first=Jose Santino |date=October 17, 2018 |title=A decade of growth: Turning NRA into a center of business |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/199378/decade-growth-turning-nra-center-business |work=[[Cebu Daily News]] |accessdate=August 31, 2022 }}</ref>

Lapu-Lapu City, where the [[Mactan Airport]] is located, is a major tourism hub, being the home to several resorts and hotels. Lapu-Lapu City is also the home to the Mactan Export Processing Zone and the Cebu Light Industrial Park, where factories of several multinational firms are located.<ref>{{cite web|title=Business Catalyst|author=Cebu Holdings, Incorporated|date=2012|access-date=September 19, 2015|url=http://www.cebubusinesspark.com/invest/business-catalyst|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620121910/http://cebubusinesspark.com/invest/business-catalyst|archive-date=20 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The other cities and municipalities of Metro Cebu remain primarily residential with several subdivisions (or suburbs), with residents commuting to the "tri-cities" for work, but are also poised for more opportunities, with developments such as the Minglanilla Techno-Business Park in [[Minglanilla]] and the New Cebu International Container Port in [[Consolacion]] seen to accommodate industries for businesses to set up shop outside of Metro Cebu's traditional core of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue.

==Metropolitan Cebu Development and Coordinating Board==
{{See also|List of mayors of Metro Cebu}}

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = Cebu Business Park and IT Park, North Reclamation Area view from Tops Lookout (Cebu City; 09-06-2022).jpg
| caption1          = 
| image2            = Tops Lookout 2022 04 002.jpg
| caption2          = Aerial view of Cebu City
}}

The Metropolitan Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) is the successor of the Metropolitan Cebu Development Council (MCDC) which was created by the RDC through Resolution No.117 (1997) and was subsequently replaced by the former in June 2011. Like its predecessor, it was mainly patterned after the [[Metropolitan Manila Development Authority]] with the inclusion of regional offices of the National Government agencies, regional services and utility agencies, and private institutions. 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 MCDCB is composed of the provincial governor of Cebu; the mayors of the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Carcar, Danao, and Naga; the mayors of the municipalities of Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cordova, Minglanilla, and San Fernando; the regional directors or heads of the [[Department of Public Works and Highways]], [[Philippine National Police]], [[Department of Environment and Natural Resources]], Environmental Management Bureau of DENR, [[Philippine Navy]], [[Philippine Coast Guard]], Maritime Police, Traffic Management Group, [[Land Transportation Office]], [[Department of Health (Philippines)|Department of Health]], and [[Department of the Interior and Local Government]], [[Philippine Information Agency]], Metro Cebu Water District, [[National Youth Commission (Philippines)|National Youth Commission]], Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Mactan–Cebu International Airport Authority, and Cebu Port Authority; and private groups such as the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated, Cebu Business Club, Cebu Leads Foundation, Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and IBM Philippines. The governor of Cebu acts as chairman of the Board.

MCDCB does not have legal and institutional powers and resources like the [[Metropolitan Manila Development Authority]] (MMDA). The MCDCB 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 [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]] and [[Senate of the Philippines|Senate]] in the [[Congress of the Philippines]].<ref>[http://www.neda7.net.ph/leslie/about/rdc/reports/acc_report2.html NEDA RDC7 Accomplishment Report(7/2001 – 12/2002)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061129164249/http://www.neda7.net.ph/leslie/about/rdc/reports/acc_report2.html |date=2006-11-29 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Greater Manila Area]]
* [[Mega Manila]]
* [[Metro Manila]]
* [[Metro Davao]]
* [[Metro Iloilo-Guimaras]]
* [[Metro Clark]]

==References==
 {{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==

{{refbegin|30em}}

* {{cite conference
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160425221927/http://www.swim-site.nl/pdf/swim17/810_scholze.pdf
| archive-date = April 25, 2016
| url-status     = live
| url         = http://www.swim-site.nl/pdf/swim17//810_scholze.pdf
| title       = Protection of the groundwater resources of metropolis Cebu (Philippines) in consideration of saline intrusion into the coastal aquifer
| conference  = 17th Salt Water Intrusion Meeting
| date        = 2002
| location    = Delft, Netherlands
| pages       = 489–495
| first1      = O.
| last1       = Scholze
| first2      = G.
| last2       = Hillmer
| first3      = W.
| last3       = Schneider
}}
* {{cite web
 |date=1998
 |title=Bohol Frets while Cebu Thirsts
 |first1=Victor
 |last1=Peñaranda
 |url=http://pcij.org/stories/1998/bohol.html
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010222044403/http://pcij.org/stories/1998/bohol.html
 |archive-date=2001-02-22
 |url-status=dead
 |publisher=[[Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism]]
}}
* {{cite news
 |url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2005/10/08/news/rdc.enlarges.metro.cebu.html
 |title=RDC enlarges Metro Cebu
 |first1=CYR
 |last1=Sun Star Cebu
 |date=October 8, 2005
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311002722/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2005/10/08/news/rdc.enlarges.metro.cebu.html
 |archive-date=2007-03-11
 |url-status=dead
}}

{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|c=Category:Metro Cebu|n=no|q=no|s=no|b=no|voy=Metro Cebu|v=no|d=Q1075343|species=no}}
* [https://www.cebu.gov.ph Cebu Provincial Government Official Website]
* {{Facebook|cebugovph|Cebu Provincial Government}}

{{Metro Cebu}}
{{Cebu}}
{{Metropolitan areas of the Philippines}}

[[Category:Metro Cebu| ]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of the Philippines|Cebu]]