DPWH Starts Construction Of P300 Million New Bacolod Economic Highway Road Project

The construction of the P300-million, three-kilometer initial portion of the New Bacolod Economic Highway (BEH) road project started Friday, April 21.

Leah Jamero, Assistant District Engineer of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bacolod City Engineering District, said the project involves a four-lane road from Barangay Sum-ag to Barangay Cabug. 

“We are looking forward to an additional funding,” Jamero said.

Spanning three kilometers from Barangay Sum-ag to Barangay Cabug, the road project is part of the 21-kilometer BEH amounting to P4.8-billion.

Jamero said the three kilometers will traverse private lands going to Barangay Cabug, where 75 percent of the land owners have agreed with the DPWH to start the construction within their properties.

The groundbreaking rites for road project, which is also part of the first phase of Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road II, was led by DPWH Secretary Mark Villar in February this year.

The civil works contract of P164.799 million was awarded to International Builders Corp.

The project is expected to be completed by May 20, 2018.

The 21-kilometer BEH will cover areas across Barangays Sum-ag, Cabug, Felisa, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Estefania, Granada, Mandalagan, and Bata.

Bacolod City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya said Secretary Villar has committed that the DPWH will finish the entire BEH project in three years.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the road project will change the infrastructure “complexion” of Bacolod.

He added that once the 21-kilometer highway is fully developed, the city will organize the Bacolod Marathon like those being held in Boston, New York, Chicago, and Tokyo.

“We will also have a Bacolod Marathon in the future. For sure, hundreds or even thousands of visitors, will come here,” Leonardia said.

Source: Philippine News Agency