Paved road supports sugar industry in central Iloilo

Traveling from Passi City in central Iloilo is faster with the construction of concrete road connecting Iloilo-Capiz Road (New Route) and Passi-San Rafael-Lemery Sara Road, which leads to various coastal towns in northern part of the province.

The road concreting project from Brgy. Imbang Grande to Hospital Road in Passi City, is undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Iloilo 2^nd District Engineering Office, in convergence with the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade Industry (ROLL-IT) program.

Citing a report from District Engineer Sanny Boy O. Oropel, DPWH 6 Regional Director Nerie D. Bueno said the road concreting project supports the sugar industry in Passi City, which is the province’s main source of sugar and other related products.

“This concrete road will improve mobilization and facilitate easier transport of agricultural products from farms to market hubs in the city, which will eventually bring better livelihood opportunities to the people,” Regional Director Nerie D. Bueno said.

“This route will likewise serve as an alternative route for the commuters going to the northern part of the province leading to the gateway of Boracay Island and neighboring provinces of Capiz and Aklan without passing the congested area along the Iloilo-Capiz (New Route) located at the City of Passi,” RD Bueno added.

RD Bueno further said that the concrete road will provide an alternate route for trucks carrying sugarcanes from farms to mill, which will boost socio-economic activities in the city.

The ₱77-million road construction project was first funded 2018 with allocation of ₱62 million for the construction of 2.4-kilometer concrete road, and widening of 620-lineal meter existing concrete road. This also includes construction of slope protection structure, reinforced lined canal, cross drainage with headwall, paved shoulders and application of reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings.

To complete the whole stretch, an amount of ₱15 million was allocated under FY 2021 Augmentation Fund, for the concreting of 556-meter Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP) connected to Passi-San Rafael-Lemery-Sara Road. The project also includes stone masonry and cross drainage. (DPWH-6)