Japan funds road projects

TUBLAY, Benguet — The Cordillera office of the Department of Public Works and Highways here disclosed the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) will fund the P116 million programmed restoration of two major road cuts along the Halsema Highway, particularly at Km 18 and 31, to ensure safer travel for thousands of motorists plying the main road leading to the interior parts of the region.

Engineer Enrico Guilas, regional DPWH director, said implementation of the restoration of the road cuts will be conducted in due time after all documentary works will have been completed by the agency’s central office.

The 300-meter road cut at Km 18 and the 180-meter damaged section at Km. 31 were inflicted by the onslaught of typhoon “Pepeng” in 2009 and were never restored.

However, Guilas said continuous maintenance work is being done in the two road cuts to ensure that it will be open to vehicular traffic at all times.

A Japanese consultant prepared plans and programs of work for the two major projects which will be completed in due time with the onset of the rainy season.