Military lauds DPWH for ongoing Burauen-Albuera road project

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 16): Military lauds DPWH for ongoing Burauen-Albuera road project

An official of the civic military operations (CMO) of the Philippine Army cited the Department of Public Works and Highways Second Leyte Engineering District for the ongoing road concreting of Burauen-Albuera road as it provides them easy access to rebel-infested areas.

Captain Ian Fabillon, Philippine Army 78th Infantry Battalion CMO officer tagged the infrastructure project as road for peace that will be instrumental in significantly minimizing the influence of New People’s Army in upland villages of Burauen and Albuera.

The army official was in Barangay Villa Corazon in Burauen recently to deliver government services when Leyte 2nd district Rep. Sergio Apostol, Burauen Mayor Fe Renomeron, and District Engineer Margarita Junia inspected the road projects and met the villagers.

“This road will serve as a road for peace. This is also a big boost to economic activities as raw materials from the mountain area can easily be brought to the town center,” Fabillon said.

The Philippine Army has been strengthening its civic military operations in 15 remote villages of Leyte which are known as “affected by New People’s Army presence.”

District Engr. Junia appreciated military’s assistance in the road section especially the provision of security to contractors and their workers. She said that NPA has never distracted project implementation in the area.

The DPWH 2nd LED is currently implementing P150 million worth of projects in 16-kilometer sections of Burauen side to include road opening, concreting, and bridge construction from both 2012 and 2013 allotment.

Of the 16 kilometers, only two are up for opening and concreting to connect it with Albuera side in western Leyte.

“Although this is not yet declared as a national road, the government has been funding the road opening as part of its effort to address bottlenecks. We would like to thank Congressman Apostol for making this road project a priority,” Junia said.

The road project started in 2008. It traverses some rebel-infested villages in the borders of northern and western Leyte. It will provide alternate road between northern, central and Southwestern part of Leyte. It is also expected to shorten travel time between Ormoc City and Tacloban City.

Motorists coming from the regional capital have to pass through eight towns to get to Ormoc City. Passing through the new road, travelers will reach Ormoc from Tacloban by passing through only five towns.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1141363361580