14 roads, 4 bridges up before 2013 ends

A TOTAL of 14 major roads and four bridges in Iloilo City, which is estimated at P1.4 billion including road right of way, will be opened for public use by the end of 2013, according to Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

Drilon disclosed teh inforamtion upon presenting the projects under President Benigno Aquino III’s administration to the Iloilo River Development Council meeting recently.

Drilon said the projects are expected to catapult Iloilo City in its dream of recapturing the title of “Queen City of the South” by 2016 and commended the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for a job well done.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the road projects will help push earlier the city’s aspiration to become a premier by 2015.

The road projects include the circumferential road, Iloilo radial R4 bypass road, widening of the Iloilo-Capiz road Jaro Leganes section, floodway bridge, Section E Jaro-Leganes to junction Iloilo coastal road, Section D and Section C of the circumferential road, Jaro Bridge, Iloilo-San Miguel road to junction Iloilo Sta Barbara Road, Iloilo-Antique Road to Iloilo San Miguel Road, Mandurriao Bridge, Iloilo-Antique Road (Arevalo) to Iloilo San Miguel Road, Mandurriao Bridge 1 and Bridge 2, widening of the Benigno Aquino Avenue Iloilo diversion road and widening of Iloilo-Dumangas coastal road, Mabilog said.

Mabilog clarified that other PNoy projects, in collaboration with the City Government, include the comprehensive dredging of the Iloilo River to help restore the river and tributaries, completion of Esplanade I, housing programs for informal settlers, expansion of the Iloilo fish port complex breakwater and the river port for roll on-roll off vessels and fastcrafts.

The PNoy administration project is the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project (JRMP) Phase II in Calinog, Iloilo that will provide sufficient irrigation water for Iloilo’s agricultural areas, additional potable water and power supplies particularly for Iloilo City before the end of 2016.