MAGALANG -- Mayor Romulo "Romy" Pecson said they will ask the National Government to appropriate funds for the widening of a three-kilometer road from Barangay San Nicolas to Barangay Ayala where the Pampanga State Agricultural College (PSAU) is situated.
The mayor said that at least P5-million is needed to construct additional one meter on both sides of the highway and drainage system.
He said the government will not spend much on the "right of way" compensation because the road easement is still free from encroachment.
However, Pecson lamented that hundreds of trees will be affected if the widening project pushes through.
The official said he is planning to initiate a tree planting activity at the mountain ranges of the town to replace the trees, which will be cut because of the project.
Aside from the road widening, Pecson said he will ask local police and leaders in concerned barangays to enforce traffic regulation to secure students at the state university.
Representative Joseller "Yeng" Guiao (Pampanga, 1st district) earlier urged officials here to prepare for the influx of student at PSAU which was recently declared state university by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched).
The local government should expand its services because of the coming in of people following the conversion of the former Pampanga Agricultural College to PSAU, the solon said.
The number of students may reach 10,000 to 12,000 or double the present enrolment of 6,000 next school year, said Guiao.
"Nanu pung buri ng sabyan nita para keng Magalang? Kailangan pu ngeni mag expand tamu naman pu kareng serbisyu tamu uling dakal la pu reng daratang a tau keni," Guiao said.
The road from the town proper to the PSAU should be widened as soon as possible to protect students and their parents. "Uling dakal la pu reng studyante ken, pota pu mikadisgrasya. Reta pung lulub nung ken lang lele dalan maskup ne pu at ala lang pilakaran."
Guiao said PSAU was declared state university during a recent hearing conducted by the House of Representative Committee on Higher and Technical Education, chaired by Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo.
Guiao also thanked Governor Lilia Pineda and other provincial officials for their support to the new state university, which he calls the pride of Magalang.