In anticipation of a bigger influx of travelers to the white sand baches of Boracay this summer, Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger Mercado led the opening of the Boracay Circumferential Road Phase 3, another newly- concreted and widened 1.4-km portion of the road.
The P140-million project along the portion of the Boracay Circumferential Road would help locals and tourists find better connection between the island’s two entry/exit points of Cagban Port and Tambisaan Port in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.
The project was inaugurated over the weekend with the attendance of top DPWH officials like Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, Undersecretary Maximo L. Carvajal, Assistant Secretary Wilfredo S. Mallari, DPWH Region 6 Director Tiburcio DL. Canlas, Assistant Regional Director Jose Al V. Fruto, and the 16 district engineers and division chiefs of DPWH’s Western Visayas Region.
Implemented by DPWH Regional Office 6, the completed project also involves construction of drainage system, sidewalk with paving blocks, installation of streetlights, sprigging, and application of thermoplastic pavement markings.
“The improvement of Boracay Circumferential Road is a manifestation of the political will of President Rodrigo R. Duterte in ensuring that Boracay will be sustained as a prime world tourism destination in the Philippines,” Mercado said.
The improvement of the 21.6-kilometer Boracay Circumferential Road, with total funding of P1.94 billion, will reduce travel time from 1.30 hours to 40 to 45 minutes from Ilig-Iligan Beach in Brgy. Yapak in the northeast part of Boracay to Cagban Port in Brgy. Manoc-Manoc in the island’s southern tip.
“Part of the Duterte administration’s long-term program to rehabilitate world famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province, the improvement of the circumferential road, has proven that successful road works is possible if there is political will and a whole of government approach,” Secretary Mercado added.
Phase 1, 2 of Boracay Circumferential Road
Former DPWH Secretary Mark Villar inaugurated in December 2020 the Phase 1 and 2 road portions that were concreted, widened and constructed with drainage system, under sidewalks, streetlighting, tree planting and road safety markings.
The Phase 1 and 2 covers 8.73 kilometers of the circumferential road with Phase 1 spanning 4.47 kms with three sections namely: Cagban Port to Hue Hotel, Hue Hotel to Elizalde, up to Bolabog Dramatic Road and the Phase 2 which is 3.36 kilometers and has three (3) sections namely: Elizalde to Ambassador, Ambassador to City Mall, and from Tambis-an Port to Rotonda. Also completed is the 800-meter section in Laketown which was funded in 2019.
“Almost half of the entire 21.64-kilometer Boracay Circumferential has been improved and we are set to implement the remaining 11.68-kilometer section in the coming years to bring further transport relief to both locals and visitors of Boracay Island,” said Secretary Villar.
Back then, Villar said the DPWH allocated a total of P890 million for the completion of Phase 1 and 2 and remaining section will require the amount of P1.13 billion in funding.
“Once fully completed, Boracay Circumferential Road will reduce travel time from Cagban Port in Barangay Manoc Manoc to Ilig-Iligan Beach in Barangay Yapak by as much as 40-45 minutes from the usual one (1) hour and 30 minutes. We are hopeful that better roads will make Boracay more appealing and beneficial to tourists and islanders,” added Villar, who is now running for senator.
Tags: #DPWH, #BuildBuildBuild, #Boracay, #shortertravel