The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) implements two (2) access road projects as part of multi-year programs in Barangay Villa Consuelo and Barangay Libtong, town of Naval, Province of Biliran, in order to support expanding agribusinesses in rural areas.
Citing a report submitted by DPWH Region 8 Director Edgar B. Tabacon, DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan said that the last phase of the ₱258.42-million, 8.32-kilometer National Road Junction (NRJ) Villa Consuelo-Libtong Road is now on-going.
This year, a total of ₱40-million was released for the concreting of remaining two (2)-lane road measuring a length of 95 meters and construction of slope protection structure and drainage, with current accomplishment rate of 17.3 percent.
Implemented under the DPWH Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade (ROLL-IT) Program in convergence with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the project is targeted to be completed before the end of 2023.
Meanwhile, another DPWH ROLL-IT project that is also underway is the Caraycaray-Cabungaan-Libtong Road which is envisioned as an 11.07-kilometer access road in Barangay Libtong. The project has so far received an allocation of ₱341.7-million since 2018.
This year, on-going works cover the concreting of a two (2)-lane, 95-meter portion of road with an allocation of ₱40 million.
Upon completion in 2025, the access road will be linked to NRJ Villa Consuelo, thus creating a circumferential road that will serve as a safer, faster, and more convenient way of moving people and farm produce.
“These projects will greatly benefit farmers living in both barangays which are known as rich sources of coco sugar, processed ginger powder, turmeric, banana chips, cacao and coffee,” said Secretary Bonoan.