Whether it is because of a sudden MECQ announcement or just for the sake of knowing the rules of the road, international travelers can be confused with the way Cebu appears to be treated differently from Cebu City.
This can be a little frustrating when you are trying to find an affordable car rental that can help you stay safe while also affording you the freedom to go anywhere for a fun trip. It is not always clear how far a rental company is going to let you go.
The short version of it is this: Cebu City is exclusively the island’s small yet major urban territory between Mandaue and Talisay. Cebu generally refers to the rest of the province outside it.
There are finer points to this though, so here are a few more things to keep in mind when you are planning to go in and out of both areas.
1. Provincial supervision.
In the Philippines, governors are the highest ranking executives with jurisdiction over their respective provinces. In the case of Cebu, its governor has jurisdiction over not just the main island but also the smaller islands of Mactan, Bantayan and Camotes. That is why it is not surprising that it is the governor’s decision that often greatly affects the lives of people in these major tourist destinations. They are more or less under the governor’s provincial supervision.
On the other hand, there are three major cities (all which comprise much of the Metro Cebu area) that are not under this supervision. They are Cebu City, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu. In these three major cities, it is the acting mayor who is in charge. Hence, that is why there can sometimes be confusion about how each of these mayors respond differently at times to various situations (such as quarantine recommendations).
2. Having a ‘base’ city is important.
Whether you are just going between the different cities or out to Moalboal, it is important to have one as your base. For the most part, Cebu City itself is the easiest choice being that it is most likely where your hotel is and where a lot of the business and urban recreation centers are.
On the other hand, sometimes your travel itinerary could end with you staying in Mandaue or Lapu-Lapu. They have their share of hotels and living spaces as well. So, when you are out driving and someone asks where you are located, it is important to be really specific about your base city. That way, if you ever run into trouble, it gives local authorities at least a general idea of where to find you to provide further assistance.
3. The specifics are important for car rentals.
Last, but certainly not the least, many car rental companies in Cebu City are also very particular about all these different jurisdictions. Oftentimes, they are the reason for why they may not always be able to give you absolutely free reign to drive in all of the major cities.
And for those that do, you can at least expect them to also charge different rates (usually between Cebu City and places outside it). Fortunately, there are car rental companies with differences in rates that are not too drastic and are still very budget-friendly.
To summarize, even just writing down the different jurisdictions can be helpful during your Cebu trip. They provide critical details when reaching out to authorities as well as knowing what rules are currently in effect as you go between them. It can be very confusing at first. But with a little bit of diligence, you will have an easier (and safer) time driving around!
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