THE ongoing rehabilitation of an almost 20-kilometer road in Moises Padilla, once completed, is seen to boost the economy of the southern Negros Occidental town.
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, who led the groundbreaking of the rehabilitation of almost a kilometer portion of the dilapidated road in the town’s Barangay Crossing Magallon on April 15, 2021, said they are banking on improving their roads to hasten the development and progress in the locality.
Garcia-Yulo said good accessibility will invite more investors to come in, as well as help local producers to lessen the cost in transporting their products to the buyers.
“We have been encouraging or agrarian beneficiaries, especially those in upland areas, to produce vegetables and other high-value crops. Once this road rehabilitation is complete, they will be able to increase profitability by lessening the transport cost and damage to their products,” she added.
The provincial government earlier allotted P15 million for the rehabilitation of the portion of the road, specifically from Bangga Crossing Magallon to the bridge.
“We are thankful for the province, especially to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, for positively responding to our request,” Garcia-Yulo said, adding that the province has pledged P25 million in additional funds for its completion.
The road rehabilitation from the bridge going to Barangay Guinpana-an, on the other hand, is under the three-phase project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Tourism (DOT).
Garcia-Yulo said the first phase is already finished while the second phase is ongoing. In three years' time, the entire project will be completed, she said.
The national government has already poured in about P80 million for the said project. An additional P63 million in tourism road development fund will be allocated next year.
All in all, the entire project costs about P183 million so far, including the portion funded by the provincial government.
“The road from Barangay Crossing Magallon to the town proper has remained dilapidated for about two decades now,” Garcia-Yulo said, adding that it has created a major socio-economic problem as this is the main route for trade and commerce, education as well as health and emergency services.
Aside from serving as access road to Negros Oriental for various trading opportunities, the road will also connect tourists to different tourism destinations within the locality.
“We have many untouched tourist attractions here. We have yet to develop our roads before fully opening these destinations to the market,” she added.
For her part, Fifth District Representative Marilou Arroyo, in a message, said she was overwhelmed upon knowing that after how many years there's been a continuous development of roads in Moises Padilla.
Arroyo said this will enable the efficient movement of people and goods, and will also boost the tourism industry of the municipality.
“I have been continuously making efforts to help get funding from the agencies in order to achieve development in our district,” she said, assuring that “we will continue to give my support for the completion of the project hopefully by next year.”