Cordillera Regional Project Monitoring Committee led by Committee Chair and NEDA-CAR Regional Director Milagros Rimando commended the DPWH-CAR for fast-tracking the implementation of the circumferential road outer ring sections and ensuring proper slope protection with appropriate engineering interventions.
The monitoring team visited five sections of the Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay (BLISTT) outer circumferential ring which aims is to provide travelers a safety alternative routes and to decongest the traffic problem of the urban areas of La Trinidad and Baguio City.
Committee members commended the project implementers for their work accomplishment ahead of schedule.
On November 4, the RPMC inspected on five of the eight sections of the outer ring circumferential roads with on-going construction, the Asin-Nangalisan junction-Bayabas-Monglo junction (Section 1, Tuba to Sablan), the Kamog junction-Pappa-Bagong Balluay-Tuel junction (Section 2, Sablan to Tublay), Sections 4A and 4B of the Bokod-Labey-Lacamen Provincial road (Tublay to Bokod to Tublay again), and the Taloy Norte junction-San Pascual Brgy. Hall junction (Section 7 in Tuba).
In the exit conference, RPMC requested the DPWH to follow-up with Benguet Caretaker Congressman Eric Yap on the conversion of local roads into national roads within the BLISTT circumferential ring.
It can be recalled that former Benguet Congressman Ronald Cosalan filled a bill for the nationalization of identified local roads.
DPWH-CAR Regional Director Khadaffy Tanggol wants to fast-track the implementation of the projects because of its importance in the economy of the locals especially in this time of pandemic.
The BLISTT outer ring circumferential road project is a product of collaborative efforts through the Cordillera Regional Development Council and the regional offices of the DPWH and NEDA. The two agencies conducted a feasibility study for the 144-kilometer road network in the BLISTT towns and the municipality of Bokod, Benguet.
The three phases of the project started in 2017 with more or less 450 million pesos as initial budget.
As of 2020, 26.8 kilometers or 43% of concrete road was completed and for the remaining 27.7 kilometers to be completed it needs 6.6 billion pesos.
(OIC Joe Manzano, RPN DZBS Baguio | Marlo Lubguban, NEDA-SPCAR)