PIA Press Release
Saturday, January 28, 2012 DPWH assures better road in time for Panagbengaby Lito DarBAGUIO CITY, Jan. 28(PIA)- - Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera (DPWH-CAR) Regional Director Edilberto Carrabacan assured better road networks for the city’s visitors in time for the staging of the Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga 2012 this February. He appealed to the public to bear with the inconveniences brought about by the road works. “Our temporary pain will translate to a better road network for Baguio, so I want to appeal to everyone to bear with us,” he said in an interview Thursday during the public forum on ‘Recreating a People- Friendly Session Road’ at the University of Cordilleras. He said that in programming their road projects they have taken in consideration the scheduled events of Baguio, thus the staggered implementation of projects for the city’s road network. He cited the Marcos Highway, which is supposed to be a 120 days project but is now almost complete except for the junctions which they can not work on yet as it will affect the flow of traffic. “We are working double time just to have Marcos Highway practically completed before the major events of Panagbenga. Our initial target is February 18 but the way our contractor is moving we can perhaps completely open the road earlier than the set deadline,” Carrabacan said. “We are trying our best to minimize the inconvenience. In which, if you go around you can see tarpaulins announcing road works, including all the necessary details and we are also giving leaflets to our motorists bearing the same information, so that upon seeing or receiving the information they can outright decide what routes to take to avoid the traffic,” he added. According to Carrabacan, these are some of the schemes they are doing now to pre-empt or avoid heavy traffic jams. “This is a continuous learning experience to the DPWH and we welcome any suggestion. If you think what we are doing is not enough give us a call or write us. Give us your idea. We will entertain them as we are all for a better Baguio”, Carrabacan stressed. Meantime, Carrabacan also disclosed that DPWH is in for a massive infrastructure development in the Cordillera this year. “We have more than P3 Billion appropriations for the whole of Cordillera, which include preventive maintenance and upgrading of roads from gravel to concrete, as it is part of President Aquino’s vision that by 2014, all national primary or arterial roads will all be concreted and by 2016 hopefully all roads are concreted, which will result to a smooth and safe flow, to and from the market place, to improve commerce and the movement of people”, Carrabacan said. For Baguio City, DPWH has 18 road projects which are scheduled for staggered implementation. These include short span asphalting works that are normally done at night. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR) | 
