The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will expedite the implementation of the P25-billion road network projects in Mindanao, after construction was halted due to the community quarantine to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Mark Villar, DPWH secretary, gave instructions to closely monitor progress of ongoing works at the three core road projects in Zamboanga Peninsula which span 230 kilometers and are funded by an Asian Development Bank loan as part of the Improving Growth Corridors for Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP).
DPWH inspected the three core road projects, namely Alicia-Malangas Road and Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road in Zamboanga Sibugay and the Tampilisan-Sandayong Road in Zamboanga del Norte.
Emil Sadain, DPWH undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) operations, said the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary halt on the ongoing civil works.
To date, 4.03 lane km. of Alicia-Malangas road were paved with concrete cement 28 centimeters in thickness on required width of 6.70 meters. About 11.79 km. full road width is also laid with subbase materials.
With an accomplishment of 24.47 percent, the 23.73-km. Alicia-Malangas road also involves the construction of bridges with a total length of 302.52 lineal meters.
Although hampered by adverse weather condition, about 12.47 lane km. of the 29.10-km. Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga road is already paved with concrete, increasing the accomplishment rate to 30.86 percent.
In Zamboanga del Norte, the 15.07-km. Tampilisan-Sandayong Road posted 25.58 percent accomplishment with about 4.95 km. of full road width paved with concrete cement.
Recently, DPWH conducted a bidding and awarded four other contract packages. Construction activities are set to start in the fourth quarter of 2020.
These projects are the construction of Gutalac-Baliguian Alternative Road and R.T. Lim-Siocon road in Zamboanga del Norte; Curuan-Sibuco road in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Norte; and the Siay-Gapol road and Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Also, procurement for three Tawi-Tawi bridges under IGCMRSP — the Nalil-Sikkiat, Tongsinah-Paniongan and Malassa-Lupa Pula bridges — is targeted on October 2020.
Meanwhile, DPWH yesterday announced the opening of a new coastal road from Rompeolas, or Sorsogon City’s baywalk, up to Barangay Balogo, providing road travelers a pleasant view of Sorsogon’s coastline.
Villar said the four-lane, 5.52-km. Sorsogon City Coastal Road with rock causeway and three bridges with total length of 110.70 lineal meters begins at junction Daang Maharlika, traversing several barangays of Sirangan, Sampaloc, Balogo and will eventually connect to barangays Pangpang, Tugos, Cambulaga and Talisay in Sorsogon City.