BACOLOD CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has included the PHP15-billion Bacolod-Victorias Coastal Road Project in the proposed Bacolod-Negros Occidental Economic Highway Program.
This was confirmed by the Office of Third District Rep. Alfredo Benitez in statement, after the lawmaker led the coordination and consultative meeting with agency officials and key project stakeholders in Talisay City on Friday.
Benitez discussed efforts for the alignment of the road network into the economic highway program to address specific concerns, as well as the social and environmental impact of the project, before the conduct of the feasibility study and detailed engineering design.
“The road project is seen to improve mobility and decongest the national highway while providing opportunities for shoreline protection, developing more land reclamation, and ensuring flood control measures,” the congressman said.
DPWH-Western Visayas Regional Director Lea Delfinado said the proposed coastal road will have a length of 37 kilometers from the Bacolod Junction point to the proposed Victorias Roll-on, Roll-off Port.
It will traverse 11 bridges from Talisay City to Victorias City, she added.
Benitez was joined in the meeting by mayors Nilo Jesus Antonio Lizares III of Talisay City, Mark Golez of Silay City, Francis Frederick Palanca of Victorias City, and Marvin Malacon of E.B. Magalona as well as Third District Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko.
Project consultants from JF Cancio, Tencate Asia and Urban Engineers presented various alignment options and the geosynthetic technology for the proposed road network.
Benitez’s jurisdiction includes four local government units north of Bacolod: the cities of Talisay, Silay and Victorias, plus the municipality of E.B. Magalona. The fifth, Murcia town, is situated east of Bacolod. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
