DPWH’s high-impact projects in Panay Island

DESPITE the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the construction of big-ticket projects of the government under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are on track, especially those in Panay Island.

Infrastructure projects have a high multiplier effects. They create a lot of jobs. They also yield high economic rate of return as they attract investors.

In a recent virtual presser, Secretary Mark Villar said the construction of projects are on schedule, as they have resumed the work on projects under the Build, Build, Build (BBB) program.

“The construction has been fast since there are less vehicles on the road. We feel we are still on track to meet our target in terms of infrastructure accomplishment,” he said.

Many of the projects are set to be completed.

“We’re confident with regards to the big-ticket projects because of the new guidelines implemented. Based on our studies, we see that the constructions are continuing,” Villar said.

The amount of infrastructure projects under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is “almost more than double than any other administration,” added the Secretary. 

Villar said the BBB will play a major role in jumpstarting the economy, especially in this pandemic.

PANAY EAST-WEST ROAD

(Antique and Iloilo)

The Panay East-West Link Road Project is part of the lateral route that starts from Barangay Ilaures in Bugasong, Antique (West Panay Side) passing the towns of Valderrama (Antique) to Lambunao (lloilo) and traversing the existing national secondary road linking Iloilo town of Calinog, Passi City, the towns of Lemery Sara, and Concepcion, towards Barangay Culasi, Ajuy, Iloilo (East Panay side).

This road project stretches 41.80 kms covering roughly mountainous terrain (new road opening from Valderrama, Antique to Lambunao, lloilo). Out of the 41.80 kms, 13 kms are on the Iloilo side.

The Panay East-West Road is seen to boost agri-eco tourism, given that it will connect the municipalities it traverses. Transport of goods will be easier. Travel time from central Iloilo to the central part of Antique will be reduced from 270 minutes to 120 minutes. 

With improved transportation access to other municipalities and villages, there are more opportunities to market agricultural products in the provinces of Antique and Iloilo. 

The road will also provide a direct link, connecting the western and eastern sides of the iIsland of Panay.

Total funding requirement for this project is P9.830 billion.

So far, the total amount released is P1.386 billion (Antique and Iloilo sides). Released for lloilo was P746 million. 

Amount needed to complete the Iloilo Side is P1.54 billion.

Current project status: Ongoing

MAAYON-SARA BYPASS ROAD

(Capiz and Iloilo)

The Maayon-Sara Bypass Road is envisioned to be an alternative and shorter route directly connecting the northern towns of the province of Iloilo, particularly from the municipality of Sara, to the central towns of the province of Capiz, specifically the municipality of Maayon.

The existing inter-provincial connection i.e., the Iloilo East Coast Capiz Road that passes the north eastern tip of Panay Island is somehow circuitous.

The construction of the 37.24-kilometer Maayon-Sara Bypass Road is divided into two packages. The Capiz Side (Maayon) involves the concreting of a 20-km two-lane (6.70 meters width with paved shoulder) Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP), including the construction of a bridge. 

The Iloilo Side, commencing in Sara up to the Iloilo-Capiz boundary, covers 17.24 kms and involves the concreting of a two-lane (6.70 width with paved shoulder) PCCP road, including the construction of tjree Pres-Stressed Concrete Girder (PSCG) bridges.

The completion of the Maayon-Sara Bypass Road will result to easy and convenient travel of speople and goods. It will provide links to various primary secondary, and tertiary roads in the town of Sara and neighboring municipalities, hence, providing more access to various areas in the northern part of Iloilo.

Travel time from Iloilo City to Roxas City using the eastern side of Panay Island will be drastically reduced.

The total funding requirement (Capiz and Iloilo) is P1.255 billion.

The total amount released (lloilo Side) is P430 million.

Amount needed to complete the lloilo Side is P280 million.

Current project status: Ongoing

ILOILO R-1 BYPASS ROAD

(Iloilo Side)

The Iloilo Radial-1 Bypass Road is an alternate route starting at the President Corazon C. Aquino Avenue (Iloilo Circumferential Road 1). It will end at the Junction Tigbauan Cordova-Leon Road. 

The total length of the project road (new construction) covers 14.30 kms with one bridge component.

This project involves the construction of a new road opening, prepared on a 20-meter wide road-right-of-way, construction of bridge, and concreting of the entire road stretch (four-lane road).

When this road is completed, the transportation of goods and services will become easier and faster.

With improved transportation, access to other municipalities will result to more opportunities for development of areas adjacent to the new road section. 

The completion of the road will form a significant framework in the road network of Iloilo.

Also, the new road opening will alleviate traffic congestion in the thickly populated poblacion area of the Municipality of Oton, Iloilo, thereby reducing significantly travel time from Iloilo City to other municipalities of Iloilo’s 1st Legislative District and to the province of Antique.

Total funding requirement for this project is P1.663 billion.

So far, the total amount released is P361 million.

Amount needed to complete the project is P1.302 billion

Current project status: Ongoing

UNGKA II FLYOVER

(Iloilo Side)

The Ungka II Flyover project is part of four flyover projects in the City of Iloilo and the Municipality of Pavia, Iloilo conceptualized primarily to address the significant demand of the Metro Iloilo Area for a more efficient transportation system to complement the region’s fast growing economy, as manifested by the congestion of the main thoroughfares in the metro area, specifically the Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue – the major gateway from Iloilo City to the Iloilo International Airport.

The Ungka II Flyover is a four-lane, 453.70-meter flyover located at the intersection of Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue, and the Iloilo Circumferential Road 1 (C1).

It aims to decongest local traffic by accommodating the rising number of trucks and light vehicles plying the route going to and from the international airport. This will contribute to the development of the local economy by easing traffic flow and lessening travel time within the locality.

Flyovers play a major role in streamlining the traffic control system. The completion of the Ungka II Flyover will not only reduce traffic congestion by reduced travel time from Iloilo City to the Iloilo  International Airport from 40-45 minutes to 20 minutes, but will also improve the aesthetics of the city’s and province’s landscape by offering tourists and locals a panoramic perspective of the metropolis.

The total released amount so far is P680 million.

Current project status: Ongoing

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