Senatorial candidate, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar vowed that he would see the completion of the Panay East-West Lateral Road (PEWLR) project in Western Visayas if and when he wins in the May 9 polls.

The PEWLR is set to be a 41.80-kilometer long road, with a width of 20 meters. It will connect Central Iloilo to Antique. It has a budget of approximately P2.6 billion.
“This project is seen to boost agri-eco tourism, given that it will connect the municipalities it traverses. The transport of goods will be easier. With improved transportation access to other municipalities and villages, there are more opportunities to market agricultural products in the provinces of Antique and Iloilo”, Villar said in a press statement on Thursday, April 21.
The construction of the PEWLR originally began in 2017 with a P760-million budget. It was projected to be open by 2020.
“The accomplishment of key projects only proves that the 'Build, Build, Build' program is significant in improving the accessibility of road networks in the Western Visayas area, while at the same time providing jobs to Filipinos amid the pandemic,” the UniTeam Senate bet added.
The project promises a 30-minute reduction in travel time between Central Iloilo and Antique. Villar estimates that the road can accommodate around 300 motorists a day.