BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia pushed for more road widening projects and conversion of local streets into national roads that will be funded by the National Government.
Leonardia said Wednesday, December 20, he discussed with Secretary Mark Villar of Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) on Tuesday that Bacolod needs more road widening as well as bridge widening projects.
“We have a list of projects and among those is the widening of the Gonzaga bridge and the conversion of eight major roads into national roads,” he said.
Leonardia noted that when he was still a congressman he filed a bill for the conversion of local roads into national roads.
Among those areas are North Drive, Gatuslao Street, Alijis Road, and Libertad.
Leonardia said the conversion of the local roads will result to the convenience of motorists since the National Government has a bigger budget to develop these roads.
“We have to concentrate on road building and rehabilitation program,” he said.
The DPWH reminded the City Government that when they do the conversion of the roads, the City Government should shoulder the right-of-way expenses.
“We assure the DPWH that for the sake of good governance, progress, and development, Bacolod will pay the expenses for right-of-way,” Leonardia said.
Villar, who led the inauguration of the Araneta-Magsaysay flyover in Bacolod City on Tuesday, said that more infrastructure projects will be implemented in Bacolod City within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Villar said the DPWH will also fast-track the construction of the Bacolod-Economic Highway (BEH) because Bacolod needs a new road opening.
The 21-kilometer BEH will cover areas across Barangays Sum-ag, Cabug, Felisa, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Estefania, Granada, Mandalagan, and Bata.
