THE portion of the scenic Daang Kalikasan in Mangatarem is nearing completion although the construction of the full length of the four-lane 19.68-kilometer road started in 2017 will not be completed till 2023.

This was confirmed by Engr. Daisy Manzano, chief of the procurement staff of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 1, during the Kapihan sa Ilocos hosted by Philippine Information Agency last week.

Manzano said the only remaining ongoing construction on the road in Mangatarem are slope protection and drainage.

She clarified, however, that the Pangasinan side of the road is still not connected to the Zambales side.

Once completed, the Daang Kalikasan will reduce the usual two hours and thirty minutes travel time from Mangatarem to Sta. Cruz in Zambales to just one hour.

Once the highway is completed, Manzano said it will enhance regional tourism flow between Region 1, Region III and Metro Manilla given the faster and more comfortable travel via Daang Kalikasan.

The other Build, Build, Build project in the area, the Daang Katutubo, an access road leading to a tribal community in Barangay Mapita, Aguilar, is also nearing completion.

Funded at a cost of P934 million, Daang Katutubo is also a scenic road that will have a view deck overlooking the ilang-ilang plantation and agro-tourism site in Barangay Laoag, Aguilar.

Daang Katutubo will be eventually connected to Daang Kalikasan.

The Lingayen Bypass road is already 50 percent complete, Manzano said.

She said the project is a 6.04 bypass road from Baay in Lingayen to Barangay Biec in Binmaley, for motorists to skirt the Poblacions of Lingayen and Binmaley.

Once completed, travel time from Baay to Biec will be reduced from 22 minutes to just seven minutes. (Leonardo Micua)

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