ILOILO CITY— The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-6) is preparing to start an P803-million expansion for a road and river park project that will be an alternate route from Iloilo City to neighboring Oton town.

“At the moment, we are in the detailed engineering stage. But we are targeting to start construction by end of March or early April,” said Engr. Al Fruto, DPWH-6 assistant regional director for Western Visayas.
Fruto told Manila Bulletin that the three-section infrastructure will cover approximately five kilometers and a continuation of the project that started along Diversion Road in Iloilo City.
The project lobbied by Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon consists of a four-lane road, bike lanes on both sides, and walkways on both sides. This will run from Mandurriao district of Iloilo City and the junction of Cagbang village in Oton.
The project will also include an extension of the Iloilo Esplanade, which is a linear park adjacent to the Iloilo River. This starts from the Carpenter’s Bridge in the city’s Molo district and will stretch for two kilometers.
“The esplanade part covers around 40-percent of the total length,” said Fruto.
Three bridges will be also built along the area.
Fruto disclosed that funding is sourced out from this year’s General Appropriation Act (GAA).