Heavy traffic builds along S. Osmeña Road at the North Reclamation Area as work on the road continues in this photo taken on March 18, 2014. (CDN FILE)
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 is speeding up work on national roads to meet its target to pave all national roads in the region before 2016.
DPWH 7 Regional Director Ador Canlas yesterday said they also aim to pave all arterial or primary roads before the end of 2014.
“And before the end of President Aquino’s term, we will be paving all secondary (national) roads,” he said in yesterday’s press conference.
The DPWH celebrated its 116th anniversary last Monday.
In partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), the agency is focusing on local and national roads leading to tourist spots.
This explains why the lion’s share of the region’s P7.5 billion budget for 2014 or P802 million goes to the Cebu 6th District Engineering Office, which covers the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.
Another reason is the coming Asia-Pacific Economic Conference which Metro Manila and Cebu will host next year.
By December this year, all primary national roads in the region declared as of July 2010 will be paved.
Among the major projects for Cebu is the S. Osmeña Road project in the North Reclamation Area and the Mactan Circumferential Road.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama earlier asked to have S. Osmeña Road project completed before the Sinulog in January next year instead of its original target of April 2015.
The project has been stalled due to various issues, including a criminal case filed against the contractor for alleged illegal cutting of 80 trees removed from the center island in April.
Canlas said the DPWH is adopting a 24/7 schedule and is using non-traditional methods, including a concrete paver to speed up work to substantially finish before the start of the Sinulog.
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