The proposed Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project will serve as "an outer ring high standard highway" for Laguna de Bay to provide motorists bound for southern and northern provinces with a "safer and far more convenient" alternative route. (Courtesy of DPWH) The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) stressed this on Thursday, May 18, after Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain recently updated the Congress on the developments of the infrastructure project being undertaken by the department. Sadain attended a focus group meeting of the technical working group of the House Committee on Ecology in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday, May 17, where he expressed strong support to the proposal of the Congress to push for the Laguna Lake rehabilitation to maximize its environmental and economic potential. Sadain, who represented DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, noted that the extensive environmental survey activities they conducted "fully considered the project’s impact on the ecosystem of Laguna Lake." (Courtesy of DPWH) The Phase I of the proposed project covering 37.4 kilometers of viaduct and embankment at western side from Lower Bicutan, Taguig City to Calamba, Laguna is already at 90 percent advanced stage of detailed engineering design, the DPWH explained. “It will also cover the construction of eight interchanges proposed to connect municipal boundaries to the nearest public road along Lower Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Tunasan, San Pedro/Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao and Calamba,’’ the DPWH added. The LLRN Phase I costing ₱175 billion will be funded through a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which is now under review by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The road construction is expected to start by the end of this year. (Courtesy of DPWH) Meanwhile, the feasibility study for Phase II of the project covering the northern to southern coastline via an eastern route "is already ongoing and involves consultation with the concerned national government agencies and local stakeholders," the DPWH said. The funding for the detailed engineering design of Phase II will be included in the civil works loan for LLRN phase I. On the other hand, the proposed third highway going south is expected to ease the traffic congestion, especially during rush hour at the Manila South Road and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to support the economic development and growth potential of the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, and Rizal in the Southern Tagalog Region, the DPWH explained. Sadain expressed confidence that another proposed DPWH project - the Parañaque Spillway Project - will effectively mitigate flooding in the area. “The underground drainage channel connecting Laguna Lake to Manila Bay will avoid spilling of lake water into low-lying communities. The project to catch overflowing flood water from Laguna Lake before it is pumped out to Manila Bay will be about 50 meters below underground traversing the cities of Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Bacoor City in Cavite,’’ the DPWH said.