Way rights hindrance in SONA projs’ completion

BAGUIO CITY – The existence of increasing road-right-of-way claims aggravated by overlapping claims in some road sections are major hindrances to completion of multi-billion peso State of the Nation Address (SONA) projects of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the Cordillera.

Amidst serious criticisms that project implementers could not finish their works on the prescribed deadline which is by December this year, engineeer Roy Manao, officer-in-charge of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Cordillera, pointed out they are working double time in all the project sites to complete the projects to satisfy the will of the President and to ensure convenience among the motoring public plying the roads where the flagship projects are being undertaken.

Manao said major hindrance to completion of phases two and three of the Halsema highway rehabilitation project and the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguerao road are increase in road-right-of-way claims and overlapping claims as well as continuous heavy downpour during the afternoons.

But Manao said local officials and community leaders are actively participating in convincing the affected residents to give up their lands in exchange for just compensation so that the road widening and concreting works will not be interrupted.

Ironically, those who have supposed claims in the areas affected by the road-right-of-way, Manao said, are demanding very high compensation over and above the allowed rates by the government, thus, they will not give in to the utilization of their properties for road expansion unless the DPWH gives in to their desired rate of the property they are supposed to give for road-right-of-way.

Engineer Alexander Castanieda, SONA project manager for the Cordillera, dsaid 26 kilometers of the three flagship projects are encountering road-right-of-way problems but efforts are already being initiated by concerned government agencies to settle the pressing concern.

Out of the 50 km stretch of the Mount Data to Bontoc section of the Halsema highway, only a minimal 1.3 kilometers is having some road-right-of-way problems from purported landowners while at least 7.3 km along the 39 km stretch of the Bontoc-Banaue section of the project is still undergoing negotiations for road- right-of-way concerns.

Along the Bontoc to Tinglayan boundary of the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road, Castanieda revealed over 7 kilometers is having some road-right-of-way problems while 11 kilometers along the Tinglayan boundary to Tabuk section is having the same problem.

Despite such pressing problems, Cordillera DPWH officials are working to settle the road-right-of-way conflicts in critical portions of the said roads to fulfill their commitment to the President that the projects will be completed on time even with the existence of several sensitive issues regarding the project implementation.

The national government has earmarked a total of P5.2 billion for the completion of the rehabilitation of major road networks in the region, particularly phases two and three of the Halsema highway, and the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road.