BAGAC, Bataan, Nov. 24 (PNA) — A bypass road that will connect an upland barangay to a coastal village in this town is ready for construction early next year, municipal Mayor Rommel del Rosario announced on Tuesday.
Del Rosario said World Bank has approved funding of Php170 million to build and concrete the road with an estimated span of 16 kilometers from barangay San Antonio to barangay Saysain.
“Lands in the upland village will become productive while still untapped beach resorts along the area to Saysain will be exposed when the road is constructed,” said del Rosario, who is on his last term.
Bagac, along with Morong town, is known for its beautiful sandy beaches adjacent to the West Philippines Sea.
The town got positive reviews from leaders of the 21-member economies when the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held its meeting here last June 9 – 12 this year.
The mayor said upland crops like camote, fruits, vegetables and even coconuts that are plentiful in the area and usually getting rot or being sold for very low prices will now be accessible for direct marketing to the benefit of the farmers.
“This long-sought road will further spur economic development in our town,” del Rosario added.
“Documentation is almost finished and we expect construction to begin early part of 2016,” Bagac municipal administrator Nick Ancheta said.
He said that the road construction is under the Philippine Rural Development Program.
The bypass road will become a link to the 40-kilometer Mariveles – Bagac Road where only five kilometers remained unconnected, Ancheta said.
Mariveles town is home to multi-national companies operating at the Freeport Area of Bataan, formerly Bataan Export Processing Zone-turned Bataan Economic Zone. (PNA)