DPWH expedites completion of Mindoro road project

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) MIMAROPA is fast-tracking the construction of the Victoria-Sablayan road project to provide easier accessibility between Oriental and Occidental Mindoro.

DPWH MIMAROPA Regional Director Engr. Gerard Pacanan, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas recently, said the project is one of the priority projects of the government as it will make transportation to and from the two provinces more accessible.

“Ang Victoria-Sablayan po na proyekto natin ay isa rin po yan para ma-address natin yun connectivity. Naniniwala po tayo na nasa gitna po ng Occidental at Oriental Mindoro yun alignment na yan mas marami ang makikinabang,” Pacanan explained.

Pacanan said that the project encountered setbacks, particularly on matters pertaining to policy changes in obtaining an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC).

Consequently, the DPWH held several dialogues with the stakeholders such as the Indigenous People communities in the project site, the local government unit, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to expedite the project.

“Ginagawa naman po natin ang lahat para ma-comply po ung mga permit nay an at hopefully kapag na comply na po natin, tuloy-tuloy na po nating magawa ang project,” he said.

The Victoria-Sablayan connectivity project consists of roads, bridges, drainage facilities, and associated facilities such as guard rails and posts totaling 61.43km in length.

To date, the DPWH has already completed almost 15 kilometers of construction in the Victoria-Sablayan road project, with 8.38km from Occidental Mindoro side in Sablayan, and more than 6 km from the municipality of Victoria.

Still under construction are the main route connecting the two provinces through the Bulalacao-Magsaysay road, which is the southern part of the circumferential road in the province and the Abra de Ilog-Puerto Galera.