[ Manila Bulletin Online ] July 8, 2008
By BEN D. ARCHE
As initial funding for P1.7-B road, 15 bridge prospects
DIGOS CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to release P100 million to commence the construction of the 73-kilometer concrete road from Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur to Glan, Sarangani Province.
Arroyo who was the keynote speaker for the 41st founding day of Davao del Sur recently announced the immediate release of the initial funds for the project that would link the two neighboring provinces in the Southern part of the country.
Jose Abad Santos Mayor Alexander Wangkay said his constituents have been dreaming of this project to be materialized to hasten the transport of agricultural products to the market.
"We badly needed that road since we considered it as the ‘missing link’ to push our town towards economic development. It would be a major breakthrough for us who had been isolated from the rest of the region for a long, long time", Wangkay said.
The mayor said the local government has requested the Office of the President to appropriate P1.7 billion for the opening and concreting of a 73-kilometer Jose Abad Santos to Glan road section that includes the construction of 15 bridges along the way.
Wangkay said even if the amount that was announced by the President is way below their request he considered it as the beginning of more economic development activities in their town.
_____________________________________________________________________
