Tacloban council drops objection to P4-billion causeway project

TACLOBAN CITY—The construction of a P4-billion four-lane causeway that spans approximately up to 2.55 kilometers along the Cancabato Bay here will proceed with modifications asked by the city council before it gave its nod to the project.

Edgar Tabacon, director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Visayas, announced that the much-anticipated project was given the green light by the city council by lifting an earlier resolution opposing the project due to environmental concerns.

“The construction of the causeway project can soon start,” he said in a statement on Friday.

The DPWH will supervise the construction of the causeway or a raised path that will traverse over the Cancabato Bay, a marine protected area.

The causeway will serve as an alternative route for motorists from the city proper’s commercial district going to Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport in San Jose District, reducing distance, travel time and vehicle operating costs.

This project includes the construction of a four-lane road embankment that spans approximately up to 2.56 km with a bridge at the center. It will also feature bike lanes, concrete canals, sidewalks, as well as wave deflectors on both sides.

Modifications

According to Tabacon, the DPWH and members of the city council agreed to enhance the project to ensure that no environmental problems may arise.

The modifications include doubling the length of the bridge from 180 meters to 360 m. A sewerage water treatment will also be installed to avoid contaminating the Cancabato Bay.

The city council, in a resolution authored by Councilor Aurora Aimee Grafil, earlier directed the DPWH in the region to address the environmental concerns before implementing the project, noting that it could adversely affect the fishing community in the city.

Council Resolution 15-88, issued on May 25, noted that the DPWH failed to include an environmental study on the Cancabato Bay, which is declared as a marine protected area in Ordinance No. 2003-8-138 which prohibits industrial wastes and pollutants.

With the enhancements, Tabacon said the original project cost of P3.46 billion was increased to P4 billion.

“Right now, we are at phase 1 with a cost of P800 million. We hope that this causeway project will be completed within the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” Tabacon said.

Priority undertaking

The causeway, considered one of the government’s priority projects in Eastern Visayas, will include the construction of a four-lane road embankment measuring a total of 2.56 km, a bridge spanning 180 m, with the provision of a separate bike lane, installation of concrete canals, sidewalks and wave deflectors on both sides.

Once completed, travel time from the city proper going to DZR Airport will only be 10 minutes from the current travel time of 45 minutes.

Tabacon hoped that the completion of the project would coincide with the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation of DZR Airport.

“These [two projects] will benefit Tacloban. This will help our economy,” he said. INQ

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