CAPOOCAN, Leyte – To stimulate economic growth and enhance access to key tourism destinations, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO), has completed a 419.5-meter Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) with a concrete-lined canal along the access road in Barangay Guinadiongan, leading to Calumpijan Island and the coastal road diving spot, this town.
District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura emphasized that in addition to boosting the tourism industry, this project aims to connect the municipality of Leyte, Leyte, via the coastal barangay roads of Cabul-an, Talisay, Tolibao, Guinadiongan, Libertad, Potot, Gayad, and Talairan, providing an alternate route to Biliran province.
Residents have long desired better access roads, and this project has fulfilled that need. They will no longer face the multiple hazards associated with traversing these road sections, especially during emergencies involving pregnant women, senior citizens, and children.
Conrada Conje, a resident of Brgy. Guinadiongan, expressed her gratitude in an interview, saying, “Before this road was built, it was very difficult to get around, and there were many obstacles along the way. We used to travel by boat to reach the town proper. Now, with this newly paved road by DPWH, it’s much easier to reach the town. We are very thankful to DPWH for this project that has greatly benefited us.”
Calumpijan Island is renowned for its pristine natural beauty and diverse marine life, while the coastal road diving spot is a diver’s paradise.
The improvement of these access roads is expected to enhance connectivity and overall visitor experience, making these destinations even more appealing to tourists.
This project was allocated a budget of P14.69 million under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) CY-2022 Convergence and Special Support Program – Construction/Improvement of Access Roads Leading to Tourism Destinations (Tourism Road Infrastructure Program – TRIP).
The TRIP program aims to promote access to airports, seaports, Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZ), and other tourism destinations in line with the national government’s priorities.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
