Flyover budget realigned

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - 7 realigned the P150 million allocation for the U.N. Avenue flyover.

The money will now be used to fund for major road projects in the cities of Lapulapu and Mandaue.

The four undertakings are the Mactan Circumferential Road (P45 million), M. Logarta road (P24 million) and F. Cabahug St. (P14 million) in Mandaue City and the Cebu North Hagnaya Wharf Road (CNHWR) at P65 million.

DPWH-7 information officer Marie Mignon Nillama said during the 888 Forum yesterday that the four projects will be bidded out this month.

Bidding for the CNHWR and F. Cabahug road projects will be on February 14 while the M. Logarta and MCR will be on the 15th of this month.

The CNHWR has a total length of 109.45 kilometers traversing the main coastal highway along the northeastern part of Cebu and serving the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Danao and Bogo and the municipalities of Consolacion, Lilo-an, Compostela, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Borbon, Tabogon and San Remigio.

CNHWR is divided into three sections: Section 1 from Cebu city to Danao City (33.50 km), Section 2 from Danao City to Sogod (27.90 km) and Section 3 from Sogod to San Remigio (48.05 km).

 Aside from the P65 million budget for CNHWR, an additional P68 million is also allocated for the said project.

According to the Regional Development Council-7, CNHWR serves as a major trunk road along the northeastern side of the province and provides links among the said cities and towns.

CNHWR's upgrading will also improve the mobility of people, goods and services and will result in less vehicle operating costs, savings in travel time, promote tourism and expand economic activities within the area.

Nillama added that for this year, DPWH has a total of P5.9 billion worth of infrastructure projects for Central Visayas.

DPWH has listed 23 infrastructure projects wherein ten of these are in Cebu.

The other five projects are the Naga-Uling road (P74 million), F. Sotto road (P98 million), Gov. Cuenco Avenue (P59 million and another P150 million) and Cebu South Coastal Road (P318 million).- (FREEMAN)