DPWH seeks P1.62-B to build alternative Leyte road

PALO, Leyte, April 10  -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is seeking PHP1.62 billion to build a diversion road with flood control and drainage systems, transforming this town’s swampy areas into potential commercial districts.

The proposed 2.87-kilometer road along Candahug, Pawing and Campetic villages will be the first of its kind in the region designed to decongest traffic and stop perennial flooding.

“This is an urgent project identified by the region as part of the department’s mandate to construct new roads to enhance the national road systems nationwide,” DPWH Regional Director Edgar Tabacon told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday.

The road will serve as an alternative route from Tacloban City going to eastern and western parts of Leyte province, addressing heavy traffic at the junction of Bureau of Internal Revenue regional office here.

Palo town is the seat of most government departments, bureaus and regional offices in Eastern Visayas.

It is also the home to the offices of the ecclesiastical government of the Roman Catholic Church Archdiocese of Palo.

“This will also boost the economic development in some parts of the area from idle swampy lands to a flood-free prime commercial district,” Tabacon said.

The infrastructure included for funding in 2019, can be considered as a diversion road since it will start at a national secondary road (San Jose, Tacloban – Candahug, Palo Road) and ends at a national primary road (Maharlika Highway), according to Tabacon.

Of the PHP1.62 billion proposed budget, PHP1.13 billion is intended for civil works and PHP490.18 million for right of way acquisition.

The inclusion of outlay to acquire properties is expected to expedite the road construction phase, the official added.

“Failure to acquire road right of way is a major setback in the construction of infrastructure projects. Our new strategy is to always include right of way acquisition cost in every proposed project,” he said.

Building alternative roads, widening, and connecting gaps along national roads has been the priority of DPWH Secretary Mark Villar to decongest traffic in two to three years.

Recently, the DPWH completed the PHP542.48 million Tacloban City bypass road and PHP238.20 million Palo West bypass road. (SQM/PNA)