DPWH, DOT deliver better agri-tourism road to NegOcc city

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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in convergence with the Department of Tourism (DOT) completed the final phase of the reconstruction of an access road in support of the agri-tourism industry in Talisay City in Negros Occidental.

Undertaken by DPWH, Negros Occidental 1^st District Engineering Office, the ₱34-million project funded under the 2022 DPWH-DOT Convergence and Special Support Program, covers the reconstruction of 1.17-kilometer long, 3.35-meter wide, 2-lane concrete road including the provision of the necessary safety and warning signs and markings.

In a report submitted by OIC-District Engineer (DE) Dene B. Baldonado Jr., DPWH 6 Regional Director Nerie D. Bueno said the reconstruction project was undertaken to complete the 13.02-kilometer road stretch, a 2018-2022 multi-year program with the collective funding of ₱295 million.

“With the improvement of the whole stretch of this access road, tourists, as well as locals, will have a smoother, faster, and safer transportation access going to various tourist destinations in Talisay City such as the famous Campuestohan Highland Resort; and in Bacolod City like Bantug Lake Ranch and the USLS Eco Park,” Engr. Bueno said.

“This access road likewise intersects with the portion of the ongoing construction of Bacolod Negros Occidental Economic Highway (BANOCEH), which will eventually reduce travel time from Talisay City proper to the mountainous communities,” Bueno added.

Director Bueno added that Negros Occidental being one of the main providers of sugar, road improvement is very essential in order to sustain the needs of the province, the region, and the country and well.

“Providing better roads like this, transport of sugarcanes and other agricultural products will be easier at a lesser travel time, hence, boosting the agriculture and economic development of the province,” Bueno stressed.

Meantime, Engr. Baldonado said that other than benefiting tourism development, this road improvement also offers comfort to local communities.

“This improved road is beneficial to Talisay City’s thriving agricultural industry as local farmers will have faster and conducive access in delivering their products from farms to the market at a lower hauling cost, hence, making more income for their families,” OIC-DE Baldonado said.

The road reconstruction activity, located in the barangays of Dos Hermanas, San Fernando and Concepcion in Talisay City, involves the construction of a 1.58-kilometer concrete road in the amount of ₱50 million in 2018; reconstruction of a 1.6-kilometer concrete pavement in 2019 in the amount of ₱40 million; reconstruction of 2.64-kilometer concrete road in 2020 amounting to ₱66 million; reconstruction of 3.8-kilometer concrete pavement in 2021 in the amount of ₱105 million undertaken by the Regional Office; and the recently completed ₱34-million reconstruction project. (DPWH-6)