The upgrade of the four-kilometer (km) road covering the towns of Liloy and Ipil in Zamboanga is nearing its completion, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Thursday, May 27.
According to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, the improvement works on the 4.358-km Liloy-Ipil Road in Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte are 94 percent complete.
The road will facilitate a 30-minute travel time between the two municipalities--down from the current 45 minutes--once finished.
“With the improved road quality and safety, motorists can expect a more comfortable and shorter travel time from the Municipality of Liloy in Zamboanga del Norte to the Municipality of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay, which will be reduced by 15 minutes, shortening the usual travel time of 45 minutes to just half an hour,” Villar said.
The improvement works on the road started in December 2020 amid the raging coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
A total of P94.15 million was set aside for the replacement of the amaged asphalt pavement with portland concrete cement, construction of drainage and slope protection structures, and provision of miscellaneous structures.
The project is part of the agency’s efforts to improve growth corridors in Mindanao, which would in turn increase agricultural and rural enterprise productivity.
“As we move forward, the public can expect more similar road networks such as this to provide safer travel for locals and tourists, hasten the delivery of goods and services, and promote rural tourism in preparation for the time when leisure travel will once again be permitted,” the secretary said.