Road concreted to boost agri-tourism development in the highlands of Central Iloilo

Delivery of vegetables and other agricultural products from the uplands of Alimodian in central Iloilo to the town proper and neighboring towns is now easier and faster with the construction of concrete access road.

The project located in Brgy. Manasa in Alimodian is undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Iloilo 4th District Engineering Office.

Citing a report by OIC-District Engineer Mario G. Soriano, DPWH-6 Regional Director Tiburcio DL Canlas said the concrete road provides alternate route to “Seven Cities” composed of seven organic vegetable-producing barangays in Alimodian town.

“This concrete road also leads to agri-tourism site in Alimodian and provides alternate access to Bucari Pine Forest and Waterfalls, one of the most visited tourist destinations in Leon town,” Director Tiburcio DL Canlas said.

“This concrete road offers vital contribution towards economic development and growth in the highlands of Alimodian and neighboring towns. Farmers can easily deliver their products to the market; they don’t anymore need to walk miles carrying their goods from farms to the market, or spent a lot in hauling the products to the town proper,” Director Canlas added.

The ₱75.27-million project funded by the 2020 Local Infrastructure Program (LIP), is divided into two sections and includes the construction of a 1.358-kilometer Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP) road with bridge.

The project specifically involves earth works, base course, PCCP, bridge, drainage system and slope protection work.

Section 1 covers the concreting of 740-lineal meter PCCP while section 2 comprises the construction of 618-lineal meter PCCP and 60-meter Pre-Stressed Concrete Girder (PSCG) bridge.

Meantime, OIC-District Engineer Mario G Soriano said that the concrete road facilitates faster and easier delivery of health and other basic government services even to the remote barangays in the towns of Alimodian and Leon.

“This (concrete road) will boost tourism development in central Iloilo, providing easier access to various tourist destinations in the area, providing locals with better opportunities for an improved quality of life,” Engineer Mario G. Soriano said

“The concrete road will also attract more tourists to visit “Seven Cities” and various tourist destinations in the area such as Bucari Pine Forest, dubbed as the “Little Baguio of Iloilo,” and Imoy Waterfalls, boosting tourism in the central part of Iloilo,” Engr. Soriano added. (DPWH-6)