By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to open more bypass roads in the country to help reduce gasoline consumption amid the oil price hikes.
In a statement on Friday, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said aside from saving on gasoline, opening bypass roads would also speed up the delivery of services.
He added that the newly opened Lipa-Padre Garcia Bypass Road will serve as an alternative route to the Manila-Batangas Road and Lipa-Rosario Road to ease the traffic flow in Lipa City.
“The President has repeatedly told us: speed up the delivery of services to our countrymen. Let’s speed up all construction, because we need to open new roads to avoid traffic,” Dizon said during the opening of the bypass road in Batangas.
“The bypass roads we opened—they are a huge relief, a huge reduction in traffic, a huge reduction in fuel consumption.”
Meanwhile, the President has also ordered to expedite the construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in the country, Dizon said during the inspection of the FMR project in Barangay New Casay, Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte on Friday with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
He said once the remaining 1.9 km. section of the FMR is completed, the journey of transporting their produce from New Casay to Dujali is expected to be shortened by 15 minutes from 30 minutes.
“With only 800 meters (of the farm-to-market road), the cost of crude oil will be reduced by half. When we finish this, our farmers, all the way to Tagum, will benefit,” he said.
“The President said that all the missing (parts) must be passed on because the assistance is really big.”
Dizon also noted that they will address the lack of riprap and drainage systems in the area to prevent flooding and protect the farms and livelihoods of residents. (PNA)
