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MANILA, Philippines — A P126.6 million road project, seen to improve travel to the highlands of Sipalay City in Negros Occidental, has been completed, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday.
In a statement, DPWH said the road runs from Sitio Magtanday to Sitio Omas in Barangay Camindangan – “a far-flung community in Sipalay City that was unreachable due to poor accessibility brought by the muddy and dusty old gravel road.”
The road project, split into two sections that covered the construction of a 5.94-kilometer, two-lane portland concrete cement pavement, was funded under the Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps Program, according to DPWH.
The initiative likewise involved the construction of “grouted riprap for slope protection and metal guard rails, hazard markers, reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings and solar LED lights as safety features.”
DPWH Western Visayas Director Nerie Bueno, for her part, said the road project will provide residents from the remote communities “a more convenient access to basic government services.”
She further said that it will also open a window for more economic opportunities as it is seen to provide an improved path to transport to markets the communities’ products like coffee, rice and vegetables. — Mae Anne Bilolo, intern