P50 million for widening, repair of Transcentral

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways-3rd Engineering District allocated some P20 million for the widening of Kilometer 38 of the Transcentral Highway.

During the Provincial Board’s regular session yesterday, DPWH 3rd Engineering District engineer James Dellosa informed that they also appropriated another P10 million for blasting of the same section of the highway.

According to Dellosa, the P30 million is part of the total P50 million that the DPWH has approved to repair a 50-meter stretch of Kilometer 38.

Last Friday night, a landslide hit barangay Cansumuroy, Balamban that left some portions of the highway impassable to motorists.

Dellosa said the clearing operations in Kilometer 39 in barangay Cansumuroy were already completed and as of 5 p.m. yesterday, it was already passable to motorists.

He said at least six dump trucks, a loader and backhoe were dispatched in the area to do the clearing and removal of rocks, debris and soil that covered the road.

About 30 meters of the road were covered with soil and boulders after the landslide that reportedly damaged about P500,000 worth of infrastructures.

Dellosa explained that every time there are heavy rains, landslides immediately occur in the area because of the loose soil in the mountain.

“No pavements were destroyed. This is not a serious problem,” Dellosa said.

Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia has already asked the DPWH to realign part of the P30-million fund intended for the repair of another section of the highway in order to widen the Kilometer 39.

The Transcentral Highway is about 33 kilometers of concrete paved road cutting across the island

of Cebu. It was built during the term of former governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña. — Garry B. Lao/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)