NEWS
DPWH relents; resumes Caramoan coastal road

The DPWH Central Office has reconsidered its decision to stop construction work at the Caramoan coastal road and transfer P150 million allocated by President Arroyo for the project to the Caramoan Peninsula mountain road now known as Gov. Felix Fuentebella Highway.

DPWH Regional Director Orlando B. Roces said he had received a written instruction from the DPWH Central Office authorizing the continuance of the Caramoan coastal road.

After the clearance, contractors to whom various segments of the projects have actually been awarded and notices to proceed already given promptly deployed heavy equipment to the project site, signaling the start of full blast resumption of construction work that was stalled since November last year because of the sudden DPWH Central Office decision to stop construction work.

This developed following representations made once again by Bicol bishops led by Virac Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos, D.D. with the President last month.

Bishop de los Santos had written the President appealing for the restoration of construction work. Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, O.P., D.D., Archbishop of Caceres, also signed the letter.

President Arroyo allocated on February 2, 2006 P250 million for the Caramoan coastal road and another P50 million in October last year while in Virac, Catanduanes. Only half of the total outlay has been spent.

In a strongly-worded three-page letter Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte who was among the first to push for the continuance and completion of the coastal road project told DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. that by discounting work at the Caramoan coastal road even if temporarily constituents would interpret the move as a withdrawal of the commitment of the President to finish the crucial project. (See full text of Villafuerte’s letter)

In Catanduanes, Gov. Joseph Cua wrote the President to remind her that Catanduanes residents are eagerly awaiting the completion of the Caramoan coastal road project which is a prerequisite for the proposed RORO project linking Codon, San Andres in Catanduanes to San Vicente, Caramoan in 30 minutes.

He emphasized that Catanduanes residents are reluctant to pass through the mountain road or Gov. Felix Fuentebella Highway which is longer by 25 kilometers or more than an hour in travel time because it is unnecessarily circuitous and it traverses hazardous rugged gravel road intended to connect Garchitorena town, away from the direct route to Naga City.