[ Manila Bulletin Online ] May 16, 2008
By JUN VELASCO
DAGUPAN CITY — President Arroyo’s infrastructure program receives a new boost with the formal opening of a major road and bridge project — a P1.2 billion infrastructure project of Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. — crossing the Pantal River led by Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., and Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. at 9 a.m. today.
The P960 million bridge component project which traverses three barangays, Dawel, Pantal and Lucao is expected to alleviate the severe traffic problem in the city, De Venecia said.
Also guests are Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura, DPWH Undersecretary Ramon Aquino and Regional Director Fidel Ginez and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod headed by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez.
The President and former Speaker de Venecia will not be present during the inauguration due to their tight schedules. An aide said De Venecia has a speaking engagement in Russia.
Ambassador Katsura will represent his country which has extended a loan package from the JBIC.
Thousands of motorists, Pangasinan and Dagupan residents are expected to troop to the opening rites citing the multiple socio economic benefits they will receive from the modern infrastructure.
Ginez said the new facility will decongest the existing sub-standard and inadequate road network in the city’s central business district.
The office of former Speaker De Venecia said the bridge has been one of his three first priority projects designed "to alleviate the severe traffic problem in the city."
De Venecia’s other landmark projects here are the Calasiao-Dagupan Diversion Road better known as Judge Jose de Venecia Sr. Highway and the (Speaker Eugenio) Perez Boulevard Extension.
Construction work began during the term of Mayor Benjie Lim after an initial P75 million released in 2002 from De Venecia’s Countryside Development Fund comprising Phase 1 of the Dawel-Pantal-Lucao Diversion Road.
For a couple of weeks now, a festive atmosphere has pervaded the city with the Bangus and Pistay Dayat Festivals in this river-rimmed city, according to Barangay Captains Angel Gumarang of Bonuan Gueset, Lilia Yasar of Pantal and Lino Fernandez of Lucao.
The new project "will provide the necessary facility to support the expansion of the central business district of Dagupan."
The diversion road forms part of the city’s circumferential road project that will interlink with the other road networks such as Sta. Barbara-Calasiao Road, Judge de Venecia Highway and the Urdaneta-Dagupan-Lingayen Road.
Construction of the bridge was actually completed on March 30, 2008, according to Director Ginez.
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