Access to the remote barangay of Balicotoc in Ilog, Negros Occidental, has become easier and more convenient with the improved roads, the Department of Public Works and Highways said Aug. 29.
The P23.87-million project in Purok Taysikan involved the paving of 1.8-kilometer, two-lane Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) road, with grouted riprap for slope protection, and 610-milimeter Reinforced Concrete Pile Culvert (RCPC) for cross drainage, the DPWH added.
The P18.56-million project from Barangay Balicotoc to Barangay Tabu, meanwhile, included the construction of a 1.03-kilometer, two-lane PCCP road with grouted riprap for slope protection, stone masonry for line canals, pipe culvert for cross drainage, and solar LED lights for the safety of residents and other road users.
DPWH6 director Sanny Boy Oropel said that these road improvement projects aim to alleviate the daily struggles of residents, especially in hauling products from farms to the market.
“These road improvements present a firm advantage for agricultural communities in rural areas, who used to suffer the muddy-when-wet, dusty-when-dry unpaved road,” Oropel stressed in a statement, adding that farmers can now transport their products to the market in a shorter time with less hauling expenses, hence making them earn more for their families.
There is also easier access to social, health, medical, education, and other basic government services, making the government closer to the people even in far-flung areas, he added.
District Engineer Rodney Gustilo of the DPWH Negros Occidental 3rd District Engineering Office said that these roads enhance connectivity that could help facilitate economic development by improving the transportation of goods and services, boosting trade and commerce.
“These roads provide smoother and faster transport of agricultural products from farms to the market, reduce transportation cost, and ensure that fresh produce reaches consumers easily,” Gustilo added. ||
