Ibajay's new bridge project assures Aklan further development
President Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurates the Ibajay Bridge
in Ibajay town in Aklan with Public Works Secretary
Hermogenes Ebdane UK Ambassador Peter Beckingham,
Ibajay Mayor Maria Lourdes Miraflores and Aklan Rep.
Florencio Miraflores.
The new 246-linear meter (lm) double-lane bridge in Ibajay, Aklan is expected to spur more development not only to the host local government unit but also to its neighboring provinces, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)regional director for Western Visayas Rolando Asis.
The P207-million bridge was inaugurated Monday by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The project situated in Barangay Polo, Ibajay leads to the Caticlan Jetty Port, the jump off point to Boracay Island.
It also serves as major route from Iloilo towards Caticlan, Aklan and nearby Antique province and vice versa.
Asis said that the new bridge, that replaced the existing 252-lm long Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder (RCDG) Bridge, would also be an access to farm to market roads and other far-flung areas.
The national government funded the project under its Special Bridge Project with the assistance from the United Kingdom and undertaken by the consortium of Balfour Kilpatrick Cleveland Bridge Joint Venture.
It is one of the 242 steel bridges implemented nationwide with the support of the United Kingdom.
Asis further said that in addition to the Ibajay Bridge, the DPWH also completed the Dumga Bridge in Barangay Dumga, Makato, Aklan which is also a UK-assisted project to the tune of P15-million.
The project is now passable, according to Asis.
DPWH also proposes for the concreting of the 1.3 kilometer road along Malay town that connects the municipalities of Caticlan, Malay, Buruanga towards Antique.
The project cost is pegged at P20 million. (PNA)