THE public works department is working to fast track the rehabilitation and construction of roads on Boracay Island to ensure that essential public infrastructure facilities are in place in time for the top tourist destination’s reopening in October.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar said his group is on track to meeting its target of opening roads with missing links as well as arteries being rehabilitated.
“DPWH is making sure to fast-track the rehabilitation of Boracay in time for its re-opening on October. We are doing the best we can to ensure that this island will once again be the world-class island that both locals and tourists keep coming back to,” he said.
He noted that the enhancement and rehab for the Boracay Circumferential Road is almost halfway done. The road serves as the island’s main road network.
“We have started the pouring of concrete and installation of pipes along Cagban to Elizalde Compound. As of now, we are almost 40 percent complete,” Villar reported.
Likewise, the construction of the gaps from Barangay Manoc-Manoc to Barangay Yapak is also on track, he said.
“Now 60-percent completed, the construction of the missing gap, along the circumferential road, will facilitate travel around the famous Puka Beach,” he added.
The agency is also building a 204-lineal meter reinforced concrete pipe culvert at the missing gap area for better drainage facility.
It will have five catchment basins, a 22-lineal meter cross drain, and a 130-lineal meter cut-off wall for installation of curb and gutter.
Other improvement activities in Boracay include the clearing of illegally-placed structures and construction of a road network along Bulabog beach.
“We have identified the Bulabog beach road network as an alternate route while the main road is being rehabilitated. This shall also serve as a logistics corridor wherein goods can be transported to and from Boracay Island, thus alleviating traffic congestion along the main road, ” Villar said.
The government decided to close down Boracay earlier this year due to environmental and health hazards caused by improper tourism practices both from the island’s stakeholders and tourists.
It is set to be reopened in October.