Exploring Ilocos Norte is expected to be easier with the completion of the improvement works on an access road leading to the famous Paoay Sand Dunes, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.
Under a P41.8 million project fund, the 3.5-kilometer road leading to the famed tourist spot has undergone concreting, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said.
Villar commended the DPWH Regional Office I led by Director Ronnel Tan “for successfully completing the concreting of the barangay road leading to Onse Reef Sand Dunes in Barangay Pacsil, Paoay which can now provide safer and more convenient trips for locals and tourists.”
“Easier access awaits tourists exploring Ilocos Norte with the improvement of the access road,” the secretary added.
The improvement works implemented on the road was funded under the 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“With the improvement of the road leading to the locality, faster access and delivery of goods are also expected to further boost the growing economy of Ilocos Norte,” Villar added.
The Paoay Sand Dunes is one of the two popular sand boarding sites in the province, the other is La Paz Sand dunes in Laoag City.
Meanwhile, Villar also announced that they are now set to implement the third and final contract to complete a 1.76-kilometer bypass road project in Bais City, Negros Oriental.
According to the secretary, Phase 2 of the ongoing four-lane Bais Bypass Road Project was recently completed which makes 1.157-kilometer portion of the bypass road already serviceable from before Aglipay Street up to Quezon Street.
The Bais Bypass Road is expected to primarily ease road congestion in Bais City center especially during rush hour, and at the same time improve mobility of motorists going north to south of Negros Island and vice versa.
Traversing sugarcane plantation, the bypass road is also seen to promote the major commercial crop of the Bais City which is considered as one of the primary producers of sugar in the province.
DPWH-Negros 2nd District Engineering Office (NSDEO) will be implementing the construction of the remaining section with an appropriation of P67 million to open the entire road by 2021.
The remaining 602-meter road section and 32-meter bridge component under Phase 3 will extend the road further from Aglipay Street crossing Bais River.