DPWH’s PHP315-M project to connect Leyte areas

CARIGARA, Leyte, June 27  -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has set aside PHP315 million to upgrade a road and build bridges in Barugo town, being eyed as part of an alternative road linking the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc.

The budget will finance the two-year construction of Minuhang Bridge (PHP150 million), Balud Bridge (PHP115 million), and road opening and concreting (PHP50 million) in Barugo town.

The completion of Minuhang Bridge in March 2019 will allow the passage of all types of vehicles on an alternative road that connects the towns of Barugo and Babatngon.

A major component is the replacement of a foot bridge in Minuhang village, said District Engineer Carlos Veloso on Wednesday.

“Currently, transporting agricultural and marine products to the public market is very costly and inconvenient since the existing footbridge is only passable to single motorcycles. Students also skipped classes during high tide, when the bridge is submerged,” he said.

The absence of this bridge forced vehicles passing through the four villages to take the longer route.

Moreover, Minuhang and Balud bridges can also be used as an alternate route in the event that Tacloban-Palo-Carigara-Ormoc road is not passable.

Veloso added that since the bridge will already be accessible to all vehicles, there will be economic growth in the area since transportation of commodities will be easier and cheaper.

Students will no longer make absences even during high tide and bad weather.

These infrastructure projects are part of a multi-year program of the DPWH, which aims to connect the three villages along Bagahupi-Babatngon-Sta. Cruz-Barugo-Carigara national road in support to Barugo Economic Zone program.

Barugo, a 4th class coastal town in Leyte province with a population of 32,745, is an agricultural town producing rice, corn and copra. Residents of a few coastal barangays are engaged in small-scale fishing and aquaculture. (LAAA/PNA)