The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is embarking on a multi-million infrastructure project that will increase mobility within the Cagayan area.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the construction of the P437-million Pigalo Bridge project will also connect the rural communities in the province of Isabela.
“The project, together with the approaches, spans 450 linear meters across the Cagayan River which is comprised of 10 spans steel plate girders at 45 m per span. It will have a carriageway width of 7.32 m wherein both abutments and 9 piers rest on bored piles,” Villar said.
Villar added that the construction of approaches along the Alicia-Angadanan-San Guilermo Provincial Road, Angadanan, Isabela will be done in order to complement the proposed bridge.
The new structure is looking to attract legitimate and productive local and foreign investments which will create employment opportunities for the people of Isabela.
The project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2019.
At the same time, Villar reported that the people in the province benefited from the department’s Community Based Employment Program.
“DPWH has been providing services to the community that will allow them acquire and develop skills in carpentry and other construction related activities,” he added.
Meanwhile, the P138 million Capas-Botolan connector road that will shorten travel time between Capas, Tarlac and Botolan, Zambales is scheduled to be finished by November.
The 5.137-km. road project is already 69.95 percent complete. Capas-Botolan road is 69.95% complete, set to finish in November: DPWH
“Currently, there is no direct link between Tarlac and Zambales. The travel time between the provinces is approximately 3 hours, but upon completion of this project, travel time would be reduced by 1 hour and 20 minutes,” he said.
“We aim to finish this project by November. It is expected to complement the existing 81.63 km. of road.”
The Capas-Botolan road would make tourist spots between the two provinces more accessible, and would thus generate more tourists, said the public works chief, noting that without this road, motorists have to pass by Pangasinan, or Bataan and Pampanga since mountainous terrain separates Tarlac and Zambales.