Gov’t sets P60 million for Baguio circuit road to ease heavy traffic

BAGUIO CITY -- The national government earmarked for this year at least P60 million to complete the long overdue 21-km Baguio circumferential road project to provide an alternate route for motorists who want to evade the worsening traffic congestions at the city’s central business district area.

The construction of the controversial circumferential road started in 2000 after former President Joseph Estrada allotted P300 million for the connection of the city’s eastern and western links, particularly from Irisan barangay on the city’s western portion to Happy Hallow on the eastern side of this mountain resort city.

Engineer Nerie Bueno, assistant regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Cordillera, said the agency has identified the completion of the circuit road as one of its pump priming project in the city, thus, it already released P60 million for the implementation of the uncompleted portions of the said roadline.

According to her, the DPWH-CAR issued a notice to proceed to the contractor to start the necessary works so that the circumferential road will be finished this year.

Bueno said included in the allocation is P1 million for the payment of road-right-of-way claimants affected by the road project within the Happy Hallow section so that they will allow the contractor to smoothly work in the area.

Last year, the construction of the circumferential road was suspended after the John Hay Management Committee required the DPWH-CAR and the contractor to secure a permit from them for the concreting of a portion of the road within its property.

At the same time, some residents in the area, whose properties will be affected by the project, also demanded for just compensation from the agency for the use of parts of their properties as road-right-of-way.

The initial P300 million released by Estrada for the construction of the circumferential road was the payment of the national government’s increasing obligation to the city government for its numerous reservations in the different parts of the city.

Bueno disclosed out of the 14 packages for the multi-million project, only 2 packages remain uncompleted, particularly those within the Happy Hallow area.

From Irisan barangay, motorists wanting to go to Happy Hallow without being inconvenienced by the traffic could opt to pass through Naguilian road, turn left to Asin road, turn right to the Sta. Lucia property and exit to Marcos highway, then pass through Balacbac and again exit in Camp 7, take the Loakan road and then to their point of destination in Happy Hallow and vice versa.

Engineer Ireneo Gallato, district engineer of the Baguio City District Engineering Office said they will closely supervise the implementation of the remaining portions of the circumferential road project in order to realize the commitment of the agency for the completion of all pump priming projects in the city within this year and most of them within the next several months. -- Dexter A. See