Better road network shaping up in Boracay
From a narrow congested road in the world-renowned Boracay Island, the Boracay Circumferential Road is now far from what it looked like six months ago.
Looking back, the road used to be a carriage-way shared by both vehicles and pedestrians. In case of emergencies, like fire, the situation becomes worse due to this narrow, overused road. One would think that this is more like a Manila residential alley than a world-famous destination.
"In emergency cases, firefighting equipment find it difficult to penetrate the house or establishements which may catch fire. This threat to public safety endangers the lives and properties of the people in Boracay, not just in occasions of fire accidents, but also in times of bad weather condition and calamities, which would result to inland flooding," the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.
Road network, however, was not the only problem faced by the famous island. It also has a poor state of drainage and sewerage systems.
It was then reported that the sewerage system was not capable of accommodating all the waste water of the island. Storm drainage system also had not yet been fully established.
April came and the closure of the island was ordered.
The department's main task on the whole rehabilitation process was to expand the island's main road into an ideal 12-meter wide road, get right of ways, and to complete the road's missing link.
Boracay Circumferential Road
The rehabilitation of the island's main road was divided into two sections, covering over four kilometers from Cagban Port to the Elizalde property.
As of October 14, the first section, that starts from Cagban Port to Hue Hotel, a 2.66-kilometer stretch, was already at 63.91 percent completed. Drainage pipes on this section were already completed, according to the DPWH.
The second section of the road which covers 1.412 kilometers from Hue Hotel to the Elizalde property is now 55.31 percent completed.
These two sections are now passable to motorists as concreting works and drainage for the whole project is now at 75 to 80 percent complete.
The missing gap was found at the backdoor of the island to complete the 4.12-kilometer road project. It is now 90 perent finished and is already passable.
Sidewalks and some crossing alleys leading to the beachfront will be planted with anahaw to bring more island vibe to the road.
The project has a total funding of P540-million.
Challenges
Early on, the task to rehabilitate the island's main road network had been identified as the DPWH's role in the whole rehabilitation process. However, as they went along with the task more challenges surfaced.
Before the road works started, the DPWH had to deploy personnel and equipment for the demolition of around 200 structures within the 12meter road-right-of-way.
From April 26 to end of June, 80 percent or 161 establishments have been cleared, while 40 structures were partially demolished.
Existing underground and sewer lines along the road and relocation of electric and Telco posts had greatly affected the work schedule, according to the agency. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic were also a challenge, DPWH said, considering the narrowness of the workable area, not to mention that the whole road cannot be closed to traffic.
Sixty percent of the contract time was marred by constant rains, causing floods and hampering the progress of construction. Portable tents were installed during those situations so that concreting works could go on.
More rehab works
When the six-month rehabilitation period for the whole island ends on October 26, the improvement works to complete the circumferential road will continue, the DPWH said.
Three sections of the Boracay Circumferential Road that will undergo rehabilitation have been identified.
The third section will start from the Elizalde property to the Ambassador Hotel, covering 0.90 kilometers. It will have a 1120-million budget.
The fourth section will cover a onekilometer stretch from the Ambassador Hotel to Citymall Boracay. It will cost
1100 million. Lastly, the fifth section covering 1.426 kilometers will start from Tambisa-an Port to Rotonda. It will have a budget of 18 million.
These sections will be improved from October 2018 onwards.
The rehabilitation of the island's main road was divided into two sections, covering over four kilometers from Cagban Port to the Elizalde property.