P100-M set for Burauen-Albuera road opening

THE National Government has set aside P100-million outlay to construct the opening of Burauen-Albuera Road, an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said early this week.

DPWH Regional Director Rolando Asis said that with the financial commitment of their main office, they will proceed with construction works in 2013, which was halted by funding constraints this year.

Asis added that some P300 million is needed to fully open the remaining 8.43-kilometer road, and an additional P500 million to construct four bridges.

About 6.26 kilometers of the road is still unopened in Albuera side and 2.17 kilometers in the Burauen side.

The DPWH reported that the National Government has already disbursed P244 million for the project.

Asis said they are strongly lobbying for the release of additional budget requirements to meet the two-year timetable for the opening of the new road connecting the western and northern part of Leyte province.

“The Regional Office has not received funding for the project in 2012 for failure to meet some requirements, however, road opening works continue this year utilizing the 2011 allotment,” Asis added.

The first and second phases of the new 12-kilometer road were completed in May 2010 and April 2011, respectively. However, the third phase is still ongoing.

Through the Burauen-Albuera road, travelers will reach Ormoc from Tacloban by passing through five towns with a combined length of 89 kilometers, shorter than the existing 107 kilometers of Palo-Carigara road.

The project will also offer a shorter route from Tacloban to Baybay City, with a difference of 30 kilometers from the existing Dulag-Abuyog route. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)