ILOILO City –The Department of Public Works and Highways 6’s (DPWH-6) construction of the 49.82-kilometer Bacolod-Negros Occidental Economic Highway (BANOCEH) is on track and nearly halfway completed with the accomplishment of roughly 35 percent amid the current situation due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and roadright-of-way concerns, which resulted to temporary suspension of work.
DPWH-6 regional director Lea N. Delfinado said the P7.97-billion BANOCEH is a multi-year infrastructure project in Western Visayas being implemented by DPWH under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte Administration, which started in April 2017 and is expected to be completed in December 2024.
“To date, 21.84 kilometers are already paved and being utilized by the motorists and commuters, while the 21.60-kilometer road is currently being constructed. Likewise, a total of six bridges with the total length of 287.6 lineal meters are already completed while eighth bridges with the total length of 574 lineal meters are ongoing. Also, 5.95-kilometer new road and 126-lineal meter bridges are up for construction,” Delfinado said.
She added, “BANOCEH, which was included in the latest State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, is a significant infrastructure that aims to ease traffic congestion and aid in economic development of the province of Negros Occidental and the country in general.”
Delfinado also said that with the construction of this by-pass road, travel time from southern and northern Negros going to Bacolod-Silay Airport Road will be reduced by approximately 25 and 40 minutes, respectively, providing comfort and ease of travel to roughly 20,000 travelers per day.
BANOCEH starts in Sum-ag in Bacolod City and ends in Victorias City, providing an alternate route from the southern to northern Negros and vice versa, passing thru Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City.
The project involves opening, concreting, widening of 38.76 kilometers new road and construction of 10 new bridges; and improvement of the existing 11.15-kilometer road and six bridges, including provision of slope protection structures. (DPWH-6)
