Leyte guv pushes for completion of Burauen-Albuera road

By Provincial Media Relations Center
January 9, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Leyte Gov.Carlos Jericho Petilla says completion of the Burauen-Albuera road is one priority road project of the Regional Development Council in Eastern Visayas this 2012.

The governor, who sits as chair of the RDC-8 says completion of the Burauen-Albuera road will help address insurgency problem in the area, as well as provide more economic activity in the villages that the road traverses.

In a recent gathering with the Vice-Mayors League - Leyte Chapter, Gov. Petilla disclosed that the RDC through the Department of Public Works and Highways in the region has already called on the support of the national government to complete the project.

The road opening project started in 2008. It traverses some rebel-infested villages in the borders of northern and western Leyte. However, the number of insurgents existing along these areas have waned over the years which led to Leyte’s declaration as a “development-ready” province prior to the conclusion of 2011.

The governor sees the road project as a big contribution in maintaining peace and order in the area. But more than that, he added that once opened, the road would open up economic possibilities for municipalities in the second district and the fourth district.

Gov. Petilla said, as a priority project, the RDC is targeting for it to be completed this 2012. A major part of the Burauen side of the road is already reported completed, while the Albuera side, the governor reports, is the part that needs more funding.

About 6.26 kilometers of the road is still unopened in Albuera side and 2.17 kilometers in the Burauen side. A DPWH report stated that the National Government has already released P244 million for the project.

The report claimed that first phase and second phase of the 12-kilometer new road was completed in May 2010 and April 2011, respectively. The third phase of the road opening is now 59 percent complete.