THE need to improve mobility and to decongest the national highway, provide opportunities for shoreline protection, development of more land reclamation, and ensure flood control measures.

These are the advantages that the Bacolod-Victorias Coastal Road Project will bring not only to the constituents of the Third District, but to all Negrosanons as well, according to Negros Occidental Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez, who led the coordination and consultative meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and key stakeholders at the DPWH 1st District Engineering Office in Talisay City Friday.

He lauded the efforts of the DPWH in its lead role in the implementation of the Bacolod–Victorias Coastal Road project.

Tackled during the meeting was the alignment of the road network, and to address concerns like the social and environmental impact of the project before the start of the feasibility study and the detailed engineering design.

DPWH-6 director Lea Delfinado announced the P15 billion Bacolod–Victorias Coastal Road Project is part of the Bacolod–Negros Occidental Economic Highway Program.

The proposed coast road will have an approximate length of 37 kilometers from the Bacolod junction point to the proposed Victorias roro port and will traverse 11 bridges from Talisay to Victorias.

Both Benitez and Delfinado rallied for the full support of all stakeholders to the project that would bring more development initiatives to the province.

Present during the meeting were Mayors Neil Lizares of Talisay City, Mark Golez of Silay City, Marvin Malacon of E.B. Magalona, Francis Frederick Palanca of Victorias City, Third District Board Member Manuel Ko, along with their respective city and municipal engineers, administrators and planning officers.

Consultants to the Project JF Cancio, Tencate Asia, and Urban Engineers also presented various alignment options and the geosynthetic technology. (PR)