An ambitious but important project that the Dumaguete City government will push vigorously this year, is the P360 million diversion road network that connects the western portion of Dumaguete to Bacong town in the south and the municipality of Sibulan in the north. City Mayor Agustin Perdices said the 12- kilometer diversion road is envisioned to ease up traffic congestion in the city and stir economic activities in the three localities.

Dumaguete City Planning and Development Officer engineer Josephine Antonio said the estimated cost of the project includes the price of land acquisition, demolition of infrastructures that will be affected by the undertaking, and actual construction of the road.

So far, Antonio said no problem is foreseen in getting the cooperation of lot owners whose properties will be used.

Sibulan Mayor Antonio Renacia said he hopes the project will push through, as it will contribute to the development of his town, especially its south-west portion.

The project was earlier indorsed by the Regional Development Council of Central Visayas to the National Economic Development Authority for funding

. "The NEDA will try to find a funding institution to finance the project. We, local officials, including our governor and congressmen, are also trying to figure out the source of the funding," Perdices said. He said he is even willing to have it started using local funds from the three localities and has instructed Antonio to continue working on the plan with the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Meanwhile, Perdices said the city government will continue, its concreting program of the city roads this year and it is expected that they will all be completed. After this, he said, the city will also start the concreting of barangay roads.*RA

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