Last section of new Leyte road up for bid in May

CARIGARA, Leyte, April 18 (PNA) -- Bidding for the last 1.5 kilometer road section of the Burauen-Albuera road is up this May, according to the Second Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-2nd LED).

District Engineer Carlos Veloso said bidding for the concreting of this road section is among the two remaining major projects of the district for 2016.

Veloso said that concreting works of this last road section will immediately follow after the bidding as the Burauen-Albuera road faces full project completion this year.

Veloso expressed confidence that the project, at least, the Burauen side, will be completed.

Many see the project to be long overdue since it was started in 2008 during the term of President Gloria Arroyo. The 36.22-kilometer road opening project cuts through rebel-influenced villages between Western and Northern Leyte and has been on the planning board since the time of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.

If totally opened and concreted, travelers coming from the capital city of Tacloban to Ormoc City, a gateway to Central Visayas, will now only have to travel 89 kilometers instead of 107 kilometers.

Aside from shortened travel time, the new road will facilitate transport of farm produce from the previously hard-to-reach upland areas to major business hubs in Leyte. With the enhanced accessibility, the new road is envisioned to improve the peace and order and economic situation of the people where the road cuts through.

The Leyte side of the project has been continuous so far, except for the delays it faced when some parts of the roads and bridges were damaged during the typhoon Ruby and Senyang in 2014.

However, Veloso said all repairs have been completed in 2015 and this year the only focus is to finish the remaining 1.5 kilometer road section, then the Burauen side will be declared complete.

Meanwhile, residents of Albuera and Burauen is positive the road will improve the economic and trade aspects of the towns. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/Ahlette C. Reyes/egr