PHP140-M Ormoc road project gets environmental permit

ORMOC CITY, Jan. 29 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) finally issued a special cutting permit that would allow construction work of a national road to cut through a forested area. The project’s progress has been snagged due to the delay of the permit’s release.

Department of Public Works and Highway - Leyte 4th district engineering office chief Lino Francisco Gonzales informs that DENR Regional Technical Director Danilo Javier signed the permit last month, but his office received it only last week. This means one month was lost which could have been utilized to start clearing almost 3,000 trees.

But even with the permit’s approval, constant rains have prevented contractor QM Construction from initiating clearing activities for the Gaas-Quezon Jr. road in this city. Adding to the project’s woes are the nine terms and conditions stipulated in the permit which the contractor has to comply, otherwise it will be cancelled.

For this reason, QM Construction is working to comply with the conditions while waiting out the rainy weather. “The most difficult condition requires the planting of 10 trees for every tree cut or a total of 30,000 new trees. The problem is that DENR doesn’t have that number of seedlings,” Gonzales said.

Thus, the contractor is looking into entering into a memorandum of agreement with DENR wherein it will just pay almost PHP1 million for the trees. DENR will utilize the amount to propagate the required number of seedlings to replace the cut trees.

Gonzales said the cumbersome process may prompt them to seek for an extension of the permit’s expiry due on February 7.

The project aims to cut travel time between the two mountain villages of Gaas and Quezon Jr. to a 15-minute motorcycle ride. Since the project’s inauguration on July 13, 2016, the contractor has accomplished a 60 percent completion rate, having opened 1,800 meters and concreted 800 meters on both ends of the road and some critical sections.

Concreting the entire nine-kilometer stretch will require PHP270 million meaning the project will not be completed as the available budget of PHP140 million is only enough to concretize 2.4 kilometers and the rest will be paved with gravel.

For this reason, the 4th Leyte district engineering office will tap the Tourism Road Infrastructure Priority program for more funding as the project is located near Ormoc’s main attraction of Lake Danao. (PNA)
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