P380M road projects to boost Baguio economy

BAGUIO CITY  – The completion of more than P380 million worth of infrastructure projects here next year will ease worsening traffic congestions and spur economic growth in the outskirts of the city triggered by increased tourist arrivals.

Engr. Ireneo S. Gallato, district engineer of the Baguio City District Engineering Office, said all the 28 infrastructure projects funded under the agency’s 2013 regular infrastructure projects were already bidded out and awaiting implementation once funds will be downloaded to their office from the central office although post-evaluation of the contractors are still underway.

“More roads in Baguio were prioritized for improvement and or rehabilitation/repair. Portion of the existing concrete pavements are shattered that needs to be removed and replace,” Gallato said, adding that more roads in the city will be under repair during the dry months to lessen the inconvenience of the local residents and visitors during the rainy season.

According to him, DPWH Central Office validated the condition of these roads and recommended measures works to be undertaken based on the criteria of road repairs and these include road re-blocking, preventive maintenance particularly asphalt overlay, instapave surface treatment and installation of pavement markings and pavement studs for the safety of commuters.

Among the priority projects to be implemented by the agency next year include the eventual completion of the city’s 21-kilometer Baguio circumferential road project that connects the city’s eastern link in the Happy Hallow area and its western link in Irisan, the city’s biggest barangays, and flood control projects in flood-prone areas in the central business district area as well as rehabilitation of roads leading to tourism zones outside the city like the Tam-awan artist’s village in Quezon Hill; the Ben Cabrera museum along Asin road; the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and Camp John Hay (CJH) areas; the Mines View Park and the Baguio Dairy Farm aside from hot spring resorts in barangay Irisan.

Contractors with previously poor performances and with negative slippages due to unavailability of equipment and manpower will no longer be awarded any of the bidded out projects,” Gallato stressed, adding that it will be unfair to those contractors who have done their projects well if some of the bidded projects will be awarded to contractors with questionable performances in the previous implementation of their awarded works.

However, Gallato said the agency will not simultaneously implement the 28 infrastructure projects considering that most of them are located within the city’s central business district area which could inconvenience local residents and visitors who will be attending and witnessing major activities like the upcoming Baguio Flower Festival, PMA alumni homecoming, graduation season, Holy Week break and the summer activities, thus, the agency is preparing a plan to implement the projects on a staggered basis with the approval of Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson.