Three access roads to link Sagada by 2014

By Gina Dizon  

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Two more access roads would be added here next year to boost tourism and economic growth of this town.

The Dantay-Sagada road linking the Bontoc-Baguio road from the Dantay junction along the Halsema Highway is the only road link to this municipality at present.

This was revealed by regional Highways director  EdilbertoCarabaccan   following a visit by engineer RchardYodong, former  vice mayor of  Sagada municipality.

The Suyo-Balili dirt road shall begin concreting as  budgeted in the 2014 Department of Tourism –Department of Public Works and Highways convergence tourism road projects, Yodong was informed.

The Suyo-Balili road was  earlier proposed  in 2010  to DPWH secretary  Rogelio Singson  to serve as access road from the Bontoc-Baguio road  to the tourist  town of  Sagada as DOT regional director  Purificacion Molintas  endorsed the road project to the Regional Development Council which eventually led to the budgeting of a P100 million road project called Sabangan-Sagada road.

The rest is history with the then Sagada Sangguniang Bayan opposing the survey, bidding and implementation of the P100 million Sabangan -Sagada road contrary  to their  earlier resolution calling for  the upgrading of the  existing  Suyo-Balili Road.

The highly contested P100 million Sabangan-Sagada road started construction after the May 2013 election.

Access roads to two major tourist spots in southern Sagada- Pongas Falls at Ankileng and Balangagan Cave at Taccong- shall also be improved, it was learned.