Maasin airport road rehab halfway there

He said the extent of the typhoon’s damage crippled vital infrastructures, particularly the airport and seaports in Southern Leyte, prompting their office to request funds from the central government to address the problem

MAASIN CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Thursday said that the repair of the access road leading to strategic public facilities in Maasin City Airport, which was damaged during typhoons Odette and Agaton, is now 50 percent complete.

DPWH Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (SLDEO) revealed that the project — with an estimated cost of P88.3 million funded under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of the agency — aims to rehabilitate the 110-linear meter road damaged by the two destructive typhoons that battered Southern Leyte.

District Engineer Manolo Rojas said the two typhoons left a trail of destruction on houses, properties and vital infrastructure in the province.

“Typhoon “Odette” damaged the airport terminal while Tropical Storm “Agaton” caused massive soil erosion on the access roads and runway,” Rojas said.

He said the extent of the typhoon’s damage crippled vital infrastructures, particularly the airport and seaports in Southern Leyte, prompting their office to request funds from the central government to address the problem in the movement of people, goods and transportation.

“The rehabilitation of the access road is deemed urgent because it is regarded as a necessary facility. If the rehabilitation process is slowed, it will disrupt traffic flow, causing delays in travel and goods transport. Apart from addressing transportation woes, this project aims to boost the economy of Southern Leyte,” Project Engr. Rainier Lou Ruiz said.

Aside from the rehabilitation of the access road, four other regular infrastructure projects are being implemented and ongoing in Maasin City Airport. Two of which are road concreting and the other two are multipurpose buildings, all are funded under General Appropriations Act 2022.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEY SANCHEZ MENDOZA FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE@tribunephl_joey STUDENTS from the University of the Philippines-Manila observe the remains of an individual believed to have lived during the Spanish colonial era in the country which is on display at the archeological repositories section of the National Museum of the Philippines.