Kalikasan, Katutubo roads, Baywalk as national roads
CONGRESS’ DECLARATION SOUGHT
THE help of Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) was sought to adopt separate resolutions asking Congress to declare the Daang Kalikasan and the Daang Katutubo, and the Lingayen to Binmaley Baywalk as national roads.
Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil, chairman of the newly formed Provincial Advisory Council (PAC), told the provincial board members that for both Daang Kalikasan and Katutubo, and baywalk to receive regular budget for their yearly maintenance, Congress must declare these as national roads.
Bataoil, who initiated the two roads and the Lingayen-Binmaley Baywalk, spoke during the Question Hour of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) last week, said the resolutions to be signed by Governor Amado Espino Jr. can be coursed through Second District Congressman Jumel Espino and endorsed by all congressmen of Pangasinan.
Willer Bince, the project engineer of Daang Kalikasan, said 80% of the unfinished 19.8 kilometer Daang Kalikasan is expected to be completed by June 2020 using the remaining fund from the P1.1 billion allotted by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Bataoil also asked the SP to pass a resolution asking the Department of Budget to release P300 million to the DPWH so the unfinished portion of Daang Kalikasan, can be finished.
The DPWH assured the completion of the Pangasinan side of the Mangatarem-Sta.Cruz road on 2022 if the additional funds are released.
Bataoil did not agree with Engr. Bince’s explanation that since Daang Kalikasan will connect two regions of the country (Regions 1 and III, it will already be classified as a national road.)
Meanwhile Second District Board Member Von Mark Mendoza said he will sponsor an ordinance retaining the names of Daang Kalikasan and Daang Katutubo, and another ordinance declaring both roads as protected areas to further ensure their protection, preservation, and development.
The names Daang Kalikasan and Katutubo were given by Bataoil himself, months after construction began because of the panoramic view of the mountainsides and the scenic waterfall that the former offers while the latter leads to the community of the Indigenous People, the Kankanaeys.
Bataoil said the 64-kilometer Mangatarem to Sta. Cruz road will be of mutual benefit to both Pangasinan and Zambales in terms of trade and commerce, including the movement of people from one province to another.
Meanwhile, Bataoil said he used his Priority Development Assistance Fund to start the Lingayen–Binmaley Baywalk while Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia duplicated the baywalk in his district (Dagupan and San Fabian).
“Once the bridges connecting Binmaley and Dagupan and Dagupan and San Fabian, are done, the baywalks will be linked to form a coastal road from Lingayen to San Fabian,” Bataoil said. (Leonardo Micua)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
