SAN FRANCISCO,
Southern Leyte – The newly-completed road concreting project
traversing the main Panaon island highway here from Liloan to San
Ricardo towns, including the two other similar packages in the pacific
area up to Abuyog, Leyte, was a “landmark in the infra-structure
development program of the President,” according to Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
“This is the
infra-structure development program that we need to pursue
relentlessly in order to sustain the economic gains of our country
today,” Secretary Bonoan stressed before a huge crowd at the municipal
gym here Wednesday, April 18, during the inauguration program for the
finished road.
The DPWH Boss said he
had come to the province five years ago, while he was in the process
of seeking financing program from the Japanese government then.
“Kaya nakita ko po ang
kalagayan ng ating kalsada five years ago. Ngayon, ako po ay natutuwa
at mai-i-report ko na sa mahal na Pangulo na ‘yun pong kalsada na
sira-sira at halos hindi mada-anan noong araw, sa tulong ng ating
mahal na Pangulo, sa ating pag-unlad ng ating ekonomiya, naisagawa na
at napakaganda na ang kalsada ngayon,” Sec. Bonoan said.
Earlier in his talk,
Bonoan said he was instructed by the President to come and represent
her in the activity as she could not personally attend due to the
health condition of the First Gentleman who was still recuperating
from a heart surgery last week.
He said he was already
aware about this inauguration during the Holy Week and shortly before
the First Gentleman’s sudden hospital confinement, as President Arroyo
kept on reminding him at their meeting that he go with her in San
Francisco for the opening of the concreted roads.
The DPWH Secretary was
accompanied by Rep. Roger Mercado and several other guests, including
Thailand Ambassador Asha Dvitiyananda and Japan Bank for International
Cooperation (JBIC) Representative Floro Adviento, among other visitors
when they arrived here 10:30 in the morning.
They were met by local
officials led by San Francisco Mayor Lorraine Asares, San Ricardo
Mayor Virginia Mejia, and DPWH officials headed by District Engineer
Carlos Veloso.
A ribbon-cutting
ceremony was held and a marker unveiled by the visiting guests
assisted by local officials a few minutes after their arrival, then
they proceeded to the municipal gymnasium for the inauguration
program.
The Liloan to San
Ricardo road concreting project stretches 40.65 kilometers. It was
labeled Contract Package III in the 23rd yen loan arterial road
project costing P1,010,701,422.95.
The project’s
Contractor was Italian-Thai Development Public Company, Ltd for the
duration of 1,087 calendar days, from May 17, 2004 up to May 8, 2007.
