DPWH breaks ground for new by-pass road project

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-6 Regional Director Lea N. Delfinadoand Iloilo 5th district Rep. Raul “Boboy” C. Tupas led the ceremonial groundbreaking of the 15-kilometer Maayon (Capiz)-Sara (Iloilo) By-pass Road, Sara Section, at Brgy. Malapaya, Sara, Iloiloon October 10.

Also present during the groundbreaking ceremony were District Engineer Flordelis C. Enriquez and Assistant District Engineer Renato H. Cogollo of DPWH-Iloilo 4th District Engineering Office; Sara town Mayor Jon Aying with other town officials and chiefs of various barangays in the town.

The20-kilometer road project aims to connect the town of Sara to the town of Maayon in Capiz.

Dir. Delfinado said the project is another milestone toward the realization of the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration.

With a Php240-million budget, the project is divided into two packages.

Package 1, which is funded under the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA) in the amount of P120 million, involves the construction and concreting of 4.80-kilometer, 2-lane, 6.7-meter wide Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP) road, including slope protection, cross drainage, and pavement markings and safety signs.

Package2, also amounting to Php 120 million, involves construction and concreting of 4.43-kilometer road, with the same components as package 1.

“We have also proposed an additional amount of P150 million to be included in our FY 2020 budget for the completion of the whole Sara (Iloilo) stretch of the project, which will include construction and concreting of 2 to 3 kilometers road, with components  similar to packages 1 and 2, however, it will include construction of 2-lane, 75-meter Pres-Stressed Concrete Girder (PSCG) bridge on bored pile foundation with slope protection and approaches,” Delfinado said.

The road will also provide links to various primary, secondary and tertiary roads in the town of Sara and its neighboring towns, hence, providing more access to various areas in the northern part of Iloilo.

“Aside from providing fast and reliable transport system from the town of Sara in Iloilo to Maayon in Capiz, this concrete road will contribute to vibrant economic activity through and from Iloilo to Capiz,” Delfinado added.

In addition, the road project is very beneficial especially to the people in the communities in the town.

According to Alfonso Planting and Joel Manda, residents of Brgy. Ardemil, Sara, having a road passing their barangay was just their dreams in the past decades. But now, they will be having a better and safer road not only for transportation but also for the delivery of their products to the town proper.

“Bisan sa damggo waay gid magtupa sa amon huna-huna nga mangin manami man ang kalsada nga amon pagaagyan halin diri sa kabukiran pakadto sa banwa sang Sara. (Even in our dreams, we never thought to have a good road from highlands to the town of Sara),” Manda said.

Meantime, Delfinado said that DPWH remains to be a strong partner in uplifting the lives of the people through efficient and reliable road transportation network.

“We will be constructing more road networks all over the region, which will be beneficial not only for the traveling public but also a big help in the transport of goods and services from one place to another, that will eventually lead to economic stability of Western Visayas,” she stressed.  (DPWH-6/RPAIO)