City seeks WB reconsideration over bridge, road projects
City Mayor Jerry Treñas and the Sangguniang Panglungsod have taken steps in pushing for the rehabilitation of bridges and widening of roads in the district of Jaro after the World Bank identified the projects as of “less priority.”
In last week’s regular session of the city council, it approved a resolution requesting the global funding agency to reassess the viability of the Montinola Bridge and widening of Buntatala Bridge, both in Jaro district.
On his part, Treñas asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to reconsider the urgency of the bridge rehabilitation and road widening projects.
The rehabilitation of Montinola Bridge and widening of Buntatala Bridge in Jaro was included in the proposed rehabilitation and upgrading sub-component of Iloilo-Roxas Road under the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development-National Road Improvement Management Program (IBRD-NRIMP 2) funded by World Bank.
The bridge rehabilitation and road widening is essential to the commuters especially during rush hours. “The concerned road section is where vehicular traffic is always heavy. It’s just a question of priority for World Bank. We try to do our best to lobby with them to pursue the projects,” said Treñas
Recently, the chief executive has been very active in pushing for different infrastructure projects such as bridge and road networks in the city. Among them is the Ticud Bridge. The rehabilitation of the Ticud Bridge has long been asked by the residents.