[ Manila Bulletin Online ] May 19, 2008
ROXAS CITY — Faster and easier travels from Iloilo to Manila via Capiz and Kalibo can be expected upon the completion of the diversion road along Kalibo-Iloilo highway.
In its on-line report, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the Kalibo-Iloilo highway, which is being used for the Strong Republic Nautical Highway Project of President Arroyo, is currently under construction and will be completed soon.
The construction of diversion, or by-pass roads is part of the move by the government to ease the traffic problem that affects motorists using the Roll-On-Roll-Off system.
The 746 lineal-meter Banga Diversion Road Project of the DPWH, which starts at the national road at Mambog, Banga and ends at the Tabayon, Banga junction, is an ultimate solution to motorists’ woes in passing the congested Poblacion area of Banga, Aklan.
Part of the Kalibo-Iloilo National Road, which is a vital component of the Western Seabord of the SRNH that links Luzon through Mindoro, Panay and Negros Island leading to Mindanao, the Banga Diversion Road, will serve as major route of cargo trucks, buses and other vehicles to avoid heavy traffic.
Transportation Undersecretary Maria Elena Bautista recently revealed that three more ports in Western Visayas are up for development, upgrading or rehabilitation this year under President Arroyo’s SRNH major legacy project.
These include the ports of Caticlan in Aklan, Dumangas in Iloilo and Ajuy in Iloilo, Bautista said.
Bautista disclosed that said ports are among the identified 15 Roll-On-Roll-Off (RO-RO) port projects for expansion this year until 2010 based on the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) workplan.
________________________________________________________________________
