(DPWH-EASTERN VISAYAS)
TACLOBAN CITY – Officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and representatives from the local governments of Samar and Eastern Samar have decided to utilize an old logging road for the ongoing construction of the Basey-Maydolong Road.
This decision followed a suggestion by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio during an inter-agency coordination meeting for the Maydolong-Basey Road Project, held at the DPWH 8 multipurpose hall on Tuesday (June 18).
The meeting, hosted by DPWH 8 through Regional Director Edgar Tabacon and his assistant, Maya Junia, was initiated by House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Representative Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan.
Libanan stated that the construction of the Maydolong-Basey Road extends into the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP).
“If the Samar and Eastern Samar road is to be connected, it will pass through a ‘strictly prohibited zone,’” he said.
The coordination meeting aimed to balance development and environmental preservation within SINP.
“By using the old logging road, tree cutting will be minimal if not completely avoided,” explained Libanan.
“Through this meeting, we identified various concerns and the importance of road alignments. This coordination helps prevent wastage of government funds,” he added.
A DPWH report revealed that the Maydolong-Basey Road covers 68.62 kilometers, with a total project cost of P3.319 billion.
The Eastern Samar side (Maydolong Section) comprises 35.85 kilometers with a total project cost of P1.981 billion.
Of this length, 21.026 kilometers are existing road, 3.14 kilometers are funded with P398 million, and 11.68 kilometers are unfunded, needing P1.583 billion.
The Samar Second District side (Basey section) consists of 32.77 kilometers with a total project cost of P3.3 billion, including 12.58 kilometers of existing road, 18.97 kilometers funded with P933.172 million, and 122 kilometers unfunded, requiring P405 million.
As of May 31, 2024, the overall project is 24.60% complete.
The project includes the construction of drainage works, slope protection structures, fences, gantries, and signage.
The road will link the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar, continuing the tourism road leading to Borongan-Llorente Closed Canopy in Eastern Samar, and the San Juanico-Basey Sohoton Road (tertiary road) in Samar.
The new route will serve as the shortest path from Tacloban City to Borongan City, reducing travel time from four hours (via Basey-Marabut-Balangiga Road) to two hours (via Basey-Maydolong Road).
The project is scheduled to be completed in 2025, depending on the availability of fund allocation from the national government.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
