By Emmanuel Solis (PNA)
LEGAZPI CITY — The construction of the seawall as well as roads and joggers’ lane in coastal areas of the northern portion of this city is now in the final stage and expected to be completed before the yearend.
Lucy Castañeda, public information officer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol regional office, said in an interview over the weekend that the projects are part of the construction of the seawall-boulevard of Legazpi being supervised by the agency in cooperation with the city engineering office.
The seawall is designed to protect the lives and properties of the villagers from the impact of storm surge especially during typhoons and other forms of natural calamities.
The seawall-boulevard project is considered as a mega tourism infrastructure traversing the coastal villages of Sabang, Baybay, and San Roque going to Rawis, Castañeda said.
She also noted that the DPWH Bicol regional office has requested a PHP150-million augmentation fund from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the construction of the road gaps of the boulevard.
Mayor Noel E. Rosal, on the other hand, said the project would serve as an alternative route of motorists going to the first district of Albay and portions of Camarines Sur.
“This road project would also serve as primary solution to the traffic congestion at the major thoroughfare in front of the regional government center in Barangay Rawis,” he said.
The mayor noted that the coastal areas in the northern section of this city would be the next haven for investment anticipated to boost economic activities by bringing more employment opportunities to the people in the villages.
The seawall-boulevard project materialized through the master plan prepared by the Legazpi City Planning Office and submitted to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in Bicol for inclusion in the investment program in Region 5.
