CEBU City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia led the groundbreaking for a P9.96 million project to pave San Antonio Street in Barangay Hipodromo, a circumferential road that serves as the main access for residents in the area.
Joining Garcia at the event on Friday, April 25, 2025, were City Councilors Jerry Guardo and Joel Garganera, along with North District Representative Rachel “Cutie” del Mar and Hipodromo Barangay Captain Ruperto Bacolod.
Bacolod described the difficulties faced by residents using the dusty circumferential road.
The road concreting project was allocated a budget of P9,960,230.17 and awarded to Win Construction.
The construction is estimated to take approximately 360 calendar days, or about one year.
In an interview, Garcia said the Hipodromo circumferential road is significant because it serves as the sole access route for motorists in
the barangay.
“It’s very important that the roads here are in good condition... This is a step forward for a long-term solution to improving our roads, not just yearly asphalt repairs,” Garcia said.
Garcia also noted the importance of incorporating proper drainage into the road design, given the barangay’s proximity to a river.
For his part, Guardo, who heads the City Council’s infrastructure committee, said the road will be five meters wide with a thickness of
75 centimeters.
“This is actually a long overdue project and this has been a long dream of Hipodromo because eversince, only asphalt is used on their roads,” he said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Guardo said the Hipodromo concreting project is exempt from the Comelec ban on new infrastructure projects during the election period, as it is part of a list of projects and services for which City Hall applied for exemption. / JPS