P150M earmarked for road expansion project

THE Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) is allocating P150 million to finance the proposed road expansion project at the seaside of Baliwasan village, west of Zamboanga City.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said Friday that this was the assurance made to him when he and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson met last week in Manila.

Lobregat said Singson told him that the fund will come from the DPWH's 2011 budget when they discussed the nationally-funded projects to be implemented in the city.

Aside from the proposed road expansion in Baliwasan, the other nationally funded projects to be implemented in the city by the DPWH include the R.T. Lim Boulevard site development expansion and the construction of a bridge in Limaong village, 83 kilometers east of the city, Lobregat said.

He said the road expansion project at the seaside of Baliwasan, once completed, will greatly reduced traffic congestion in roads leading to the city's west coast.

He said DPWH District Engineer Merham Acas is set to submit to DPWH-Manila the plans and estimates of the Baliwasan road expansion project.

On the other hand, the DPWH has allocated a funding of P40 million in its 2011 budget for the expansion of the R.T. Lim Boulevard site development project, which will cover the remaining 400 linear meters baywalk leading to the area fronting the City Council building.

Last April 26, the City Government has unveiled the first phase of the site development project, which was undertaken through a partnership of the National Government and the local government.

The National Government, through the initiative of House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and first district Congresswoman Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, has funded the initial cost of P20 million for the pile driving, partial filling and shoreline protection, while the City Government came in for the site development, including expansion and beautification of the road and sidewalk amounting to P8.6 million.

In the second and third phases of the project, the National Government will also fund the initial work similar to what it did in the first phase while the local government will shoulder the expenses for the site development and beautification.

The City Government is expected to spend some P20 million for the site development in the two phases, Lobregat said.