P124M secondary access road for new Iloilo airport to start within the year
The construction of the P124-million secondary access road that will directly link the Municipality of Cabatuan to the new Iloilo airport will start within the year.
Cabatuan Mayor Ramon Yee said the project which will be funded by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) will pass through barangays Tabucan, Tiring, Gaub, Talanghawan and Duyan-Duyan and end right about 100 meters away from the main gate of the airport.
Once completed, Yee said, the access road is expected to spur economic activities within the area with the entry of some industries needing the services of the airport.
“In the later years, maybe still in our time, we will see small scale and non-polluting agro-industrial/agro-processing firms that will be established because they took cognizance of the proximity of the airport,” he added.
Yee said a pre-construction survey was already conducted last Wednesday.
He said the secondary access road will be an alternate route for those coming from the third district of Iloilo and southern Capiz.
Likewise, three road development projects leading to the airport are expected to be completed before the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends in 2010.
DPWH regional director Rolando Asis said the road widening, rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of the 13.10-kilometer Iloilo City-Pavia-Sta. Barbara road and the 11.86-kilometer Metro Iloilo Radial Road connecting Zarraga-Tacas, Jaro–Pavia are 22 percent completed as of June, this year.
The two projects cost P1.2 billion.
At the same time, the P319 million Pototan-Bga. Dawis-New Lucena-Sta.Barbara road was 15 percent completed as of June and is expected to be finished by December this year.
“This will make travel to the airport more convenient for those coming from the northern portion of Iloilo and at the same time, will also boost economic development along these areas,” Asis said. (PNA)