NEWS
Seek faster implementation of Caramoan coastal road

CARAMOAN COASTAL ROAD - Projects in the Caramoan Coastal Road covered by the P29.5 million package whose funding was secured by Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte are all nearing completion now as shown in these photos. These include improvement of portions of the Pili-Bulalacao section including the Pili Bridge, road opening from Bitaogan to Canatuan and concreting and improvement of the Liwacsa to Bitaogan section. But work under the P50 million package to be undertaken by the Camarines Sur provincial government by administration including road opening from Guijalo to Canatuan has not commenced at presstime according to Caramoan priests and community leaders closely monitoring the project.

Faster implementation of the Caramoan coastal road is being sought by target beneficiaries in the Caramoan Peninsula and the island province of Catanduanes whose populace pin on the completion of the crucial project the realization of the roll on-roll off system which will link the province to the mainland through Caramoan in just 30 minutes.

Reports reaching CRANE MONITOR said Bicol bishops have requested President Arroyo to direct DPWH to fasttrack the project since she already allocated substantial funding for the undertaking ten months ago.

In a dialogue with the President on January 30, 2006 in Malacañang, Bicol bishops through Most Rev. Manolo A. de los Santos, D.D., Bishop of Virac, appealed for the implementation of the Caramoan coastal road project which was already started in 1991 but stopped one year later.

President Arroyo assured the bishops in the dialogue that the Caramoan coastal road project would be pursued and during her visit to Camarines Sur on February 2, 2006 or three days later she announced that she was releasing a combined funding of P500 million for the rehabilitation of the Andaya Highway and the Caramoan coastal road.

Bishop de los Santos was one of the most ardent endorsers of the petition of the Caramoan Residents Association in Naga City and its Environs (CRANE) for the continuance of the Caramoan coastal road project in April last year which was first transmitted to the Malacañang through President Assistant for Bicol Affairs Tomasito Monson.

The petition was endorsed by government leaders, socio-civic organizations and nearly a thousand local officials, religious and community leaders in Caramoan and Catanduanes.

In asking for speedier implementation of the project, Bicol bishops through Msgr. De los Santos took note of reports of Caramoan priests that work is on-going in some sections of the 23-kilometer road from Presentacion, but the road opening portion from Guijalo in Caramoan to Canatuan, also in Caramoan has still not begun after it was expected to commence at least three months back. The portion is to be undertaken by the provincial government of Camarines Sur by administration according to DPWH Regional Director Orlando B. Roces.

Fr. Joaquin Camano, Guijalo parish priest, said that parishioners in all Caramoan churches everyday during Mass recite a prayer imploring divine intercession for the smooth and speedy completion of the project.