ILOILO City – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Mark Villar led the inauguration of the 770-meter Kalibo Bridge III along Kalibo Circumferential Road in Aklan on Jan. 16 in time for the celebration of the Ati-Atihan Festival 2020.
The inauguration was attended by Aklan governor Joeben Miraflores, Aklan First Legislative District congressman Carlito Marquez, Second Legislative District congressman Teodorico Haresco, Kalibo mayor Emerson Lachica, DPWH undersecretary Roberto Benardo, DPWH-6 regional director Lea Delfinado, assistant regional director Jose Al Fruto, district engineer Noel Fuentebella of DPWH-Aklan District Engineering Office and several district engineers in Panay.
Kalibo Bridge III, located on the boundaries of Brgy. Tigayon, Kalibo and Brgy. Mina, Lezo, is part of the 16-kilometer Aklan Circumferential Road, which traverses the towns of Kalibo, Numancia, Lezo and Makato.
The project costing P473.5 million, involved the construction of 770-lineal meter, 2-lane, 22 span Pre-Stressed Concrete Girder bridge on bored pile foundation, including approaches, slope protection works and concrete paving of 3-kilometer road.
In his speech, Villar said the project is considered as a game-changing project of DPWH in Western Visayas, particularly in the province of Aklan, which part of Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program. He also assured that more infrastructure projects will be provided to the province.
Villar also said that he talked with Aklan local officials for the construction of Aklan Circumferential Road that will connect the airport and Aklan port, which is among the priority projects under BBB. He also looks forward to working together with the local leaders to ensure the completion of the project before president Duterte ends his term in 2022.
Villar also lauded DPWH Region 6 for completing the project as scheduled, in time for the celebration of the Ati-Atihan Festival.
He emphasized that the completion of the project will shorten the travel time from one hour and 30 minutes to one hour or even 45 minutes.
Significantly, the construction of this bridge will not only reduce travel time from Kalibo to Caticlan which will be shortened from 75 minutes to 60 minutes, but also help in the faster and easier transport of goods and services and other basic commodities.
Further, the project will provide a fast and liable transport system by creating alternate route that would decongest the Aklan East Road in Kalibo area, and will provide direct link to Kalibo International Airport, serving as an auxiliary route to Caticlan Airport in Malay, which is the jump-off point to the famous Boracay Island. “Approximately 5,835 motorists in the province as well as travelers and visitors/tourists who love to explore various tourism destinations in Aklan and neighboring provinces will be able to benefit this project,” Villar stressed./PN
