Thursday, October 02, 2008 P200M for Bacolod-Silay airport access road By Jerson O. Coronica
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday ordered the initial release of P200 million to jumpstart the construction of the P1.5-billion Bacolod-Silay Airport access road.
Public Works Undersecretary Rafael Yabut said Arroyo ordered the release of the money as she presided over the groundbreaking rite for the 10.12-kilometer access road aimed at fueling the economic development of Negros Occidental.
Immediately after her arrival at the new Bacolod-Silay Airport, the President motored to barangay Bagtic, just a few blocks away from the airport’s main entrance, to lower the time capsule signaling the start of the construction of the infrastructure project.
Yabut, who is in-charge of DPWH operations in Visayas and Mindanao, told Arroyo the access road will shorten travel time in and out of the airport.
“Sa tulong ng access road, Madam President, makakatipid ang mga motorists by at least 13 kilometers and saving about 20 minutes travel time,” Yabut said.
The access road will traverse the cities of Silay, Talisay, and Bacolod.
He also informed Arroyo that the proposed access road will run parallel to about 3-4 kilometers of the Bacolod Coastal Road. It would pass through sugarcane fields at the outskirts of Silay and Talisay cities, branching off at the north tip of the Bacolod Circumferential Road, and ending at the Silay-Guimbalaon Road about 500 meters west of the Bacolod-Silay Airport.
The construction of the access road was originally set to start next month but with the approval of the partial release of the fund, the DPWH can now start the project that is expected to be completed within 16 months.
Earlier, DPWH District Engineer Sonny Boy Oropel revealed that aside from the construction of the 10.12-kilometer four-way road, the project would also entail the construction of six bridges, namely: Lagoy, Banago, Minulang, Catabla, Guinhalaran and Bagacay.
Arroyo, Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, and other top officials inspected the engineering plans and layouts of the project.
Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco, Congressmen Kako Lacson (3rd District) and Monico Puentevella (Bacolod), Acting Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, Talisay Mayor Eric Saratan, Silay 1st lady Marissa Montelibano and councilors from Silay and Talisay, among others, witnessed the ceremony. Aftwards, Arroyo and her party motored to Bacolod City for the formal opening of the city’s 70th Charter anniversary and 29th MassKara celebrations where they were welcomed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and other city officials. (With PIA)
