BUTUAN CITY – Despite the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the construction of road project leading to the country’s surfing capital of “Cloud 9” in Paradise Island of Siargao was recently completed.
“Our district engineering office (DEO) in Surigao del Note already hit their target time line of completion last month,” said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Engr. Pol Delos Santos, in his progress report to DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar, on Thursday afternoon.
“After this health crisis and when things go back to normal, our tourists both foreign and domestic will surely enjoy the good weather condition road there (Siargao),” the region’s top DPWH 13 official said.
The District Engineer (DE), project engineer and technical staff of the first Surigao del Norte DEO completed the 2.045-kilometer asphalt overlay project in the acknowledged “Paradise Island” of Siargao.
The completed project will improve the main access to the famous “Cloud 9” along Dapa-General Luna road in Barangay Osmeña, Dapa, Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte province.
“Tourists and villagers in that island will surely enjoy the all weather condition road,” said Director Delos Santos, in an exclusive interview with The Manila Bulletin on Thursday.
The P55, 457,120.79-million project started on January 31, 2020.
The project included the application of reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings to guide travelers at night.
“Despite of health restrictions that we are encountering, ground works continuous with also maximum implementation of health protocols being implemented by the DPWH in all government infrastructure projects in various parts of the region,” Director Delos Santos added.
As Siargao Island has become one of the most sought after destinations in the world, the number of arrivals on the island has increased annually and, relatively, also its road users.
The completion of the project will improve the road’s quality and ensure the safety of the traveling public – foreigners and locals alike.
“With this asphalted road, plying along the surfing areas on a motorcycle, which is the major mode of transportation on the island, will be smooth and convenient,” the top DPWH official said, in a statement.
The road section is the main road from the seaport and airport of the island leading to the world’s eighth best surfing spot “Cloud 9” in the tourism town of General Luna in Pacific Ocean facing island of Siargao.