Cordillera SONA projects on sked; GMA built more roads, bridges than other presidents says Domingo

BAGUIO CITY – No other president has surpassed President Arroyo’s record of building roads and bridges in the country, according to Dept. Public Works and Highways Sec. Victor A. Domingo.

The newly-appointed Secretary, who traces his roots from Laoag City, said he may be holding his new post a little more than 200 days before the elections but he could still make an impact implementing DPWH programs by building or rehabilitating more roads and bridges like the President.

He said here part of his programs, though these may take longer than his term, includes making the main road from Manila to Laoag a “super highway,” implementing a drainage plan for Metro Manila and Laguna de Bay.

Domingo said under a fast response disaster mitigation program he implemented when he assumed office, the impact of Typhoon Pepeng was addressed.

In the Cordillera, he said roads like the Marcos, Naguillan, Kennon and Halsema highways were opened earlier as there were three shifts of workers 24 hours a day.

This, as contrary to published reports that the Cervantes - Mankayan- Abatan Road project in Benguet is suffering from delays, the DPWH clarified that the road project was ahead of schedule.

In a report, DPWH Philippine Japan Highway Loan Project Director Vicente Perez said that the project is already 39.3% complete, ahead of 17.02% compared to its scheduled accomplishment rating.

“Much of the programmed works are completed even before the inclement weather was experienced in the Cordillera during the past few weeks. We even advised the contractor to take necessary action plan to catch up for the lost of time during the visit of Typhoon Emong in Northern Luzon,” Perez said.

The Cervantes-Mankayan-Abatan Road project is one of the DPWH priority projects as it is considered as a heritage highway linking the historical rich Ilocos Region and the indigenous tourist spots in Cordillera.

This P682 Million project involves the construction of 7.6 kilometers of Portland concrete cement pavement, 17.6 kilometers of asphalt cement pavement, improvement of drainage system, slope protection structures and rehabilitation of 5 existing bridges. The project is jointly funded by the Government of the Philippines and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, it is scheduled to be completed by February 2010.

Meanwhile, the realization of Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road Project was established by the DPWH as essential in boosting the economy of affected areas. “It is also considered to be a factor to poverty alleviation since this road is very vital for economic, political, and social interaction within the locality,” said a DPWH report.

"It will also promote regional development such as upland agriculture, tourism, and mining. It will also facilitate lower transport cost of goods and services. White water rafting along the Chico River will be readily accessible upon the completion of the road networks improvement."

Gov. Floydelia S. Diazen of Kalinga earlier said oshe was thankful of the SONA Project because they had been longing for this kind of project for it would link all the municipalities of Kalinga and it would be easier to access the people.

Store-owners Norma and Jaime Gonzeles of BarangayLocug, Tabuk said they were grateful for the concreting of their old road as this has made their business more profitable because travelers have increased in traversing the Bontok-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road instead of taking the long trip via Isabela going to Baguio.

Farmer Alonso Fattit of said the SONA project has made their life easier since all their produce can now be easily brought to the market. Out-of-school youths in their barangay now are making money since the contractor of the project has given them jobs as skilled workers.
Regional Director Roy L. Manao of DPWH-Cordillera is working overtime to complete the project on scheduled, the report said..

Manao with his RPMO-SONA Project Manager Alexander Castañeda and project engineers are reportedly oversee the actual progress of the project trough regular field inspection in compliance with a DPWH central office directive.

Manao said in the report implementation of the project was divided into two sections, the P948.322 million Bontoc-Tinglayan Boundary Road (section 1) having a 12.82 % accomplishment and the P2,340.599 million Tinglayan Boudary-Tabuk Road (section 2) having a 31.12% accomplishment as of April 20, 2009.

The improvement of Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao was envisioned to strengthen east-west link as it will spur economic linkages between CAR and Region II and will hasten a north-south mountain link between mountainous provinces such as Mountain Province, Kalinga and Apayao.
The only problem the DPWH is reportedly encountering is road-right-of-way issues particularly at Bontoc side wherein affected landowners don’t cooperate.

“We are conducting regular dialogues with barangay and local officials in order to achieve smooth implementation of the project,” Castañeda said in the report.

Barangay Captain Mariano Way-yas of Barangay Tocucan, Bontoc, Mt. Province said they were not against the widening and improvement of the road because it will be very beneficial to them, adding they were only asking for a just compensation of their affected lots because those lands were owned by their forefathers. -- AD