Local road developed for easier access to NegOcc’s remote, mountainous areas

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The improvement of a gravel road to a concrete pavement by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through the Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG) has eased transportation access even to the remote and mountainous areas of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.

As reported by District Engineer (DE) Rodney A. Gustilo, DPWH Regional Director (RD) Nerie D. Bueno said the concrete road reaches Sitio Omas in Barangay Camindangan, one of the far-flung areas in Sipalay City where government services were not easily delivered due to poor accessibility.

“Prior to its concreting, the access to this community was really poor. The road was muddy during rainy days and dusty in summer, wherein transportation was quite a challenge, especially to the people in delivering their products to the market, as well as for the government in providing necessary services to the people,” Bueno said.

“With this road improvement, residents in the remote areas can have easy and convenient access to transportation, especially in the delivery of their products like coffee, rice and vegetables to the market, as well as in buying their needs from the town. Health, social, education, peace and order, and other government services can also be easily provided even to the people in the highlands.”

According to William E. Torno, a local resident, the improved road enhanced the peace and security in the barangay. The community is now at ease, lands can be freely cultivated for agricultural development, and people can live a peaceful and normal life, without the fear of insurgency or any other untoward situation.

Punong Barangay Elir D. Borres said the construction of concrete roads significantly decreases the delivery cost of products, increasing the income of the people. This also promotes social, economic, and educational engagements in the barangay.

Meantime, DE Rodney A. Gustilo disclosed that a total amount of ₱126.64 million, funded under FY 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) through SIPAG program, was poured for the improvement of the 5.94-kilometer access road, which is divided into two sections.

The first section involves a 2.97-kilometer long, 6.1-meter wide, 2-lane Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP), while another 2.97-kilometer long, 6.1-meter wide, 2-lane PCCP with 6-meter wide, 27-meter long spillway and pipe drainage comprise the second section.

“Other than the construction of PCCP, we also built grouted riprap for slope protection, metal guard rails, hazard markers, reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings, and solar LED light for the safety and convenience of our motorists, pedestrians and the community, especially at night,” Gustilo said. (DPWH-6)