Locals and tourists will soon be able to easily travel around Polillo Island, Quezon Province as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continues to implement a road network project traversing its three municipalities.
DPWH Quezon 1st District Engineer Ma. Chymbelin D. Ibal said a project is ongoing to build approximately 23.10 kilometers of two-lane roads to connect the towns of Polillo, Panukulan, and Burdeos.
“This tourist-haven island of Polillo offers world-class beach and island destinations. With its very promising tourism potential, its existing road network will not be sufficient to cater the expected influx of tourist arrivals,” Ibal said.
The construction of Polillo-Panukulan-Burdeos Road is one of DPWH’s priority projects in the province as it will provide the necessary interconnectivity of different tourism destinations and serve as the main thoroughfare on Polillo Island, directly benefiting the livelihood of residents.
The entire road network project has an estimated total cost of P1.212 billion. To date, DPWH has already completed 6.75 kilometers of the road with a corresponding P357.27 Million funding release.
When completed, Polillo-Panukulan-Burdeos Road will traverse barangays Balungay, Bato, Milawid, and Calasumanga in the municipality of Panukulan, and barangays Binibitinan, Taluong, and Salipsip in the municipality of Polillo, connecting to the existing Polillo-Burdeos Provincial Road.
Polillo Island, despite being a three- to four-hour boat ride from the main island of Quezon, is frequented by beach-goers and backpackers who want to swim in the crystal-clear waters of Anilon Island, Anawan Island, and Kabalo Sandbar, among others. (DPWH) – jlo