Access road paved to support agri-tourism in central Iloilo

Transport of agricultural products from the highland barangays of Alimodian in central Iloilo will soon be more convenient once the ongoing construction of access road undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Iloilo 4^th District Engineering Office is completed.

DPWH-6 Regional Director Lea N. Delfinado said the construction of 2.74-kilometer access road worth ₱116.64 million is roughly 85 percent completed. It is expected to be fully operational before the end-2021.

“We are working round-the-clock to ensure that the project will be completed so the public, especially those living in the highland barangays of Alimodian and Leon towns in central Iloilo could have better access to transportation,” RD Delfinado said.

“When completed, this road will benefit hundreds of families living in far flung communities. Delivery of basic government services including healthcare and social services could easily reach the people especially those in the upland areas who are far from hospitals and government offices,” she added.

Delfinado further said that the road provides access to Agri-tourism Site and the “Seven Cities” composed of seven barangays in Alimodian, which are considered as among the major suppliers of vegetables and other organic agricultural produce to Iloilo City and neighboring towns.

Meantime, OIC-District Engineer Mario G. Soriano disclosed that the access road project, which started in April last year, is composed of three (3) projects and undertaken by three different contractors.

Project 1, in the amount of ₱73.76 million, is divided into two sections. Section 1 involves construction and concreting of 740-lineal meter road, while Section 2 involves construction and concreting of 687-lineal meter road with bridge component. The project also includes drainage and slope protection structures, and other structures.

Project 2, on the other hand, involves construction and concreting of 920-lineal meter road in the amount of ₱29.26 million. Project 3, costing ₱13.52 million, involves construction of 415-lineal meter concrete road with lined canal, slope protection, stone masonry, metal guard rail, and posts with fishtail.

“With this road construction project, goods and agricultural products from farms will be easily delivered to the markets, with low hauling cost compared to the usual scenario where farmers had to pay a lot for the transport of their products since vehicles could hardly reach their areas,” Engr. Soriano said.

Engr. Soriano also said that this road provides access to Agri-tourism site in Alimodian town, thus, a big help in the tourism development of central Iloilo and the whole province of Iloilo.

DPWH is continuously undertaking significant infrastructure such as roads leading to tourism destinations and agricultural areas, which aims to provide a seamless transport system, faster delivery of goods and services, and easier mobility of the people. (DPWH-6/RPAIO)