By Jezza A. Nepomoceno
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) conditional match grant program, formerly known as the Kalsada (Konkreto at Ayos na LanSAngan ang DAan tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran) program, will be providing P413 million to the province of Iloilo to conduct rehabilitation work on four local roads.
The projects include the Mina-Talibong-Yugot-Navitasan-Naslo Road in Mina, the Cabugao-Banban-Toyungan Road in Calinog, the Batad-Embarkadero Road in Batad, and the Carles Poblacion-Bankal Road in Carles.
A formal budget is pending release once detailed engineering designs and program of works for road rehabilitation are revised and approved, however, Engr. IV Isagani Baldevieso of the Provincial Engineer’s Office confirmed the projects in Batad and Mina will cost P43 million and P121 million, respectively.
“We are working as fast as we can to accomplish DILG’s recommendations on the program of works and detailed engineering designs,” said Baldevieso.
Meanwhile, plans for 2018 include the paving of a 45.34 kilometer dirt road that traverses the towns of Dueñas, Calinog, New Lucena, Mina, Balasan, and Sara.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. said he will exert all means to have most, if not all, provincial roads, paved before his term expires in 2019./WDJ