P404-M released for Benguet road rehab

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The national government released P404 million to jumpstart the initial repair and upgrading of two secondary national arterial roads in this vegetable-producing province in order to boost the increased economic activities in rural areas as well as serve as alternate routes for the motoring public and the transport of vegetables from the farms to the market, particularly the vegetable trading post here.

The Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias road in southern Benguet and the Tublay-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun-Buguias road in northern Benguet are part of the major trunk lines in the Cordillera which need upgrading as enshrined under the Cordillera Road Improvement Project (CRIP) crafted by the Regional Development Council in order to spur economic development in the countryside.

Out of the said amount, P350 million was earmarked for the rehabilitation of the Tublay-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun-Buguias road while P54 million was also set aside for the initial rehabilitation of the Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias road which connects the southern towns of Benguet to the newly rehabilitated Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya road.

Engineer Roy Manao, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways, said the appropriate feasibility studies for the two roads have already been completed and are undergoing evaluation by the agency’s project management office for possible inclusion in future overseas development assistance for the realization of the dream of provincial officials for better roads.

Earlier, provincial and municipal officials appealed to the RDC during its fourth quarterly meeting held here to strongly endorse the inclusion of the two roads for funding by local or foreign sources so that its improvement could help reduce the transport cost of vegetables from the farms to the vegetable trading post. -- Dexter A. See