Road works part of Pnoy’s Daan Matuwid program

BAGUIO CITY – It takes synergy to get things done, especially in the realm of public works.

This is proven in the ongoing road work being done in various parts of the city and in Region I and II which come from the cooperative work between the Office of the President and the office of Congressman Bernardo M. Vergara.

According to Vergara, the various road work being pursued in and around the city are part of President Benigno Aquino III’s directive to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to develop the country’s road networks. This directive came right after he assumed office in 2001.

Although the order was for all roads of the country, Baguio City, being a prime tourist destination, was given priority.

As per the Presidential directive, the DPWH was tasked to identify roads within and around Baguio City and to conduct the feasibility studies for this roads. But in order to fasttrack the implementation of these projects, Vergara stepped in to lobby for their immediate execution with the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

These roads projects include the asphalt paving for Session Road, Harrison Road, Abanao Street, Magsaysay Avenue and Leonard Wood Road; the construction of the multi-million peso Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway; the North Drive-Leonard Wood Road diversion road; and the reblocking of portions of Marcos Highway.

Vergara stressed proper credit should be given to President Aquino who had the vision of improving the country’s decaying roads as well as for prioritizing Baguio’s needs and concerns.

“We must thank our President Ninoy Aquino for including Baguio in his order to improve the city’s road networks,” Vergara stressed.

Vergara added it is the DPWH which will implement these projects with funds coming from the Office of the President and other national government sources. Vergara clarified none of the funds came from his Priority Development and Assistance Fund.

Likewise, Vergara emphasized, the DPWH has to follow a schedule as set in the feasibility study. But Vergara made sure the schedule, especially for the city roads, would not hamper or disrupt the scheduled tourism events.

 “If the DPWH fails to implement the projects on schedule, there is a possibility the sourced funds might revert back to the national treasury following DBM policies and regulations,” Vergara added.

“My role in these projects is to source funds which are directly given to the DPWH for implementation and assure that Baguio will get its rightful share in the Presidential directive. And I believe with all these projects now completed, or about to be completed, I have done a good job to ensure Baguio tourism and development will be given national attention,” Vergara stressed.