Sariaya bypass road project (Photo from Rep. David Suarez Facebook page)
LUCENA CITY—President Duterte inaugurated on Thursday, Oct. 21, the P685-million 7.42-kilometer bypass road project in Sariaya town in Quezon province.
“Today, we add another milestone in our build, build program … This achievement affirms the administration commitment to improve the quality of life of Filipinos by pursuing strategic infrastructure projects across the country,” Duterte said in his speech at past 4 p.m., after unveiling the marker on the stage under a tent put up on the side of the new road.
He said the new four-lane road that includes four bridges, aims to improve connectivity, increase people’s mobility, create jobs, and disperse economic activity throughout the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region.
“It will likewise spur the growth of industries and business opportunities in the area by boosting the socio-economic development of Quezon province and improve the lives of the people,” Duterte stressed.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, new Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger Mercado, and Senator Bong Go accompanied the President.
Quezon Gov. Danilo Suarez, Rep. David Suarez (2nd district), Sariaya Mayor Marcelo Gayeta, and other local chief executives in the province’s second district met the President.
Representative Suarez described the event as “historic” in Quezon province, particularly for his district.
“This will have a high impact on the motorists,” Suarez said in his speech as he expressed his gratitude to the president.
The new road, which starts at the Maharlika Highway before entering Sariaya town proper coming from Manila, ends at the Quezon eco-tourism road.
It will reduce travel time from Sariaya to the capital city of Lucena from 45 minutes to 10 minutes.
The Sariaya bypass road, which opened to motorists late last year, has helped decongest traffic along the 11-kilometer section of the Maharlika Highway between Lucena City and Sariaya.
The road project passes rural villages in Sariaya, which features rolling terrain of mostly ricefields and coconut plantations.
The new road also cuts part of Barangay Ilayang Talim in Lucena City before exiting in Quezon eco-tourism road in Barangay Isabang also in this city.
Former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar listed the Sariaya bypass road as one of the top 10 road projects in Calabarzon.
The other projects include the Tayabas City bypass road also in Quezon; Alaminos-San Pablo City, Laguna; Tagaytay City bypass, Cavite; Star Tollway-Pinamucan bypass, Batangas; Kaykulot diversion road, Cavite; Batangas City-San Pascual-Bauan diversion road, Batangas; Lobo-Malabrigo-Laiya-San Juan road, Batangas; East-West expressway, Cavite and Batangas; and NCR-Laguna Lake highway, Laguna.
The DPWH started the Sariaya bypass road project in 2014. It was supposed to be completed in 2017, but the repeated suspension of work caused by road-right-of-way (ROW) settlement issues to affected landowners delayed it.
Some ROW claimants have no legal basis to receive compensation. There were also multiple claimants to a single property that have hindered the ROW payment process. INQ