TUBA, Benguet -- Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson will be swamped with requests for various infrastructure projects in the region when he visits Baguio City on September 1.
Baguio officials led by Representative Bernardo Vergara and Mauricio Domogan will request funding for the widening of the City Camp Lagoon, development of the proposed sanitary landfill in Sto. Tomas, and construction of a flyover in the Bokawkan and Naguilian intersections.
In Benguet, Representative Ronald Cosalan, Tuba Mayor Florencio Bentrez and officials of the DPWH-CAR are also set to present to the secretary their proposal of re-engineering an accident-prone portion of Marcos Highway.
The DPWH, Cosalan and Bentrez inspected the Badiwan portion of the highway, Saturday afternoon.
Assistant Regional Director Alex Castañeda said the Badiwan portion near the Ever Lodge is the most accident prone area of the highway.
He said the long incline from the Marcos Highway tunnel to Badiwan contributes to engine "exhaustion" thereby resulting to accidents.
"Kennon Road is also inclined but the steepness is not as long as that of the Marcos Highway," Castañeda said.
Castañeda said a vacant property at the right side of the highway (from Baguio) will be engineered to form a zigzag road. This way, vehicles going down would slow down while vehicles going up will have time to gain to adjust its accelerating speed.
Cosalan also told reporters the proposal is doable but the local government would have to deal with the property owner first.
"We might explore expropriation proceedings," Cosalan said.
The DPWH is set to prepare the program of work and cost estimate of the project. (Rima Opiña)