DPWH Leyte completes high-impact projects

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 23 (PNA) – The 2nd Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) made an ocular visit on Thursday of high-impact projects in the second district, two of which are already completed.

These projects are the reblocking and slope protection of the road along Breakneck Ridge in Lemon, Capoocan, Leyte; the two-storey 6-classroom K to 12 school building at the Carigara National High School in Carigara, Leyte and the soon to be completed first phase reconstruction project of the Hiagsam Bridge.

District Engineer Carlos G. Veloso said they have urged contractors of the project to fasttract its completion as two of the projects are along the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc road, a primary road network connecting the region to the western part of the Leyte island and neighboring provinces of Cebu.

A landslide in December 2014 due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Seniang devastated a section of the road along the Breakneck Ridge in Lemon. It marred traffic during one of the country’s busiest days.

The district office undertook a multi-million road reblocking and slope protection project in the area and the recent site visit revealed the project to be fully completed with widened road, drainage and slope protection over the ridge to prevent the mountain from further erosion.

The Breakneck Ridge is strategically situated about 10 kms. more or less, west of Capoocan town proper and has gained international popularity for its important role in history particularly during the Liberation of Leyte by the American-led Allied Forces from the Japanese occupation in World War II that started on October 20, 1944.

Meanwhile, the Hiagsam Bridge which was devastated during a similar typhoon is undergoing a two-phased reconstruction, making it into Leyte’s first four-lane bridge. As the first phase is completed, the bridge is expected to be opened to vehicles and motorists this September as the second phase continues.

The Carigara National High School meanwhile is among the 70 classrooms completed by the 2nd LED out of the 78 total number of K to 12 school building projects funded under the DepEd’s basic educational facilities fund.

The building is said to be typhoon resilient and is within the building standard set by the DepEd.

Veloso said the completion of these projects will not only benefit the people living in the said areas but also the commuters and tourists, thereby improving mobility and sustain the district’s and the region’s economic growth. (PNA)

FPV/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES/EGR