Change of road status pushed

CEBU, Philippines - Representatives Benhur Salimbangon and Ramon Durano VI have agreed to push for the conversion of a provincial road from Barangay Damolog in Sogod town to Barangay Dakit in Bogo City into a national road.

Salimbangon and Durano have jointly sponsored House Bill No. 4823, which seeks to convert the road and provide funds for such purpose.

The 41-kilometer road traverse Sogod and Borbon towns in the Fifth District, which Durano represents, and Tabogon to Bogo City in the Fourth District, which Salimbangon represents.

The lawmakers said the municipalities of Borbon and Tabogon are potential economic sites and tourist destinations, thus, the road will be beneficial, especially that it also leads to a roll-on/roll-off (roro) port in Tabogon.

The provincial road sought to be converted is a mix of asphalt and concrete.

“The road infrastructure must qualify to the standard of what is expected of tourism and economic sites,” the lawmakers said.

The complete concreting of the provincial road is well within the capacity of the national government and ownership and supervision of national roads must be declared under the national government.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall prescribe the implementing rules and regulations necessary to evaluate, approve, and implement the law, once enacted.

The Secretary of the DPWH shall include the road in the department’s Program and Improvement, Repair, and Maintenance, funding of which shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. —/JMO  (FREEMAN)