BARAS, Catanduanes – The Maria Joson Teves Diversion Road here opened to traffic on Monday afternoon, January 15.
Rev. Fr. Nestor R. Buena led the blessing and inauguration attended by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Bicol Assistant Regional Director Engr. Marilou Lacuna, other officials from the DPWH, TGP party-list Rep. Jose "Bong" Teves, Catanduanes Vice Gov. Peter Cua, Baras Mayor Jose Paulo Teves III, and representatives from Ako Bicol party-list.
Lacuna said that construction of the road was funded with P120 million under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for fiscal year 2022. It is a four-lane, 426.5-meter long road with a bridge and will help decongest traffic at the town proper of Baras.
THE newly opened Maria Joson Teves Diversion Road in Baras, Catanduanes will ease traffic in the municipality. (LGU Baras)
Lacuna said that the project had three phases – Phase 1 with a P30-million funding, Phase 2 which includes the bridge for P40 million, and Phase 3 that fully completed the project with a total funding of P50 million.
"Ito ay magsisilbing isang daan patungo sa development ng isang area. Secondly ito ay magsisilbing road to decongest the traffic. Binanggit naman ni Congressman Teves na congested na ‘yung sa Poblacion kaya mas maganda na itong meron ng alternative route upang mabilis ang transportation," Lacuna added.
Mayor Teves said that the road was named after his grandmother, also the mother of Rep. Teves, who is a teacher and a war veteran.
"Ito ay bilang pag-honor natin thru the help of the Sangguaniang Bayan. Nagpasa po sila ng resolution at gagawin po nating ordinance," the younger Teves said.
Rep. Teves said that they started looking for funding during his first term as party-list representative in 2020.
"Kasabay ko dito si Ako Bicol Congressman Zaldy Co para magkaroon ng pondo. Initially, nakakuha tayo ng P60 million at nung aking second term, ngayon, nagpalagay uli ako ng another P60 million. Ang purpose po nito ay para ,magkaroon ng luwag at hindi na masyadong dumaan sentro ng Baras ang mga pupunta ng bayan ng Gigmoto at iba pang destination sa Baras," he said.
Rep. Teves also said that the road will also serve as protection against flood during typhoon and heavy rains.
"Makikita ninyo nandiyan po ‘yung river. Isa itong flood control at the same time para hindi na po tayo mag-widening ng isang metro. Halos two meters ang mawawala at ‘yung mga bahay na matagal ng nakatayo ay maapektuhan sila," he said.
Rep. Teves thanked House Committee on Appropriations chairman Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co for appropriating funds to realize the project that will benefit residents of Baras and nearby towns.
Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Jil Bongalon said that the project was realized through the collaboration of every concerned agency.
"Alam mo sa Kongreso dapat tulungan tayo sapagkat when it comes to infrastructure development dapat hindi lang ito situated sa isang lugar. That is why the Committee on Appropriations allotted P120 million for the purpose of the construction of diversion road sa Baras, Catanduanes," Bongalon said.