LA TRINIDAD, Benguet July 24 -- The national government has already earmarked P53.8 million for the improvement and upgrading of the Gorel-Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias-Abatan secondary national arterial road to fulfill the earlier commitment of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the improvement of the road.

At the same time, Public works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. informed local officials headed by Rep. Samuel M. Dangwa that the agency is working out the release of an additional P20 million from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to be used to widen the scope of work along the road.

However, the remaining P80 million balance to totally improve the said road will be considered for prioritization in next year’s budget.

The important road links northern Benguet and Mountain Province to Nueva Vizcaya and the rest of the Cagayan Valley.

Dangwa pointed out once the road is improved, the secondary national road will surely boost tourism since it leads to existing tourist destinations such as Mount Pulag, the second highest mountain peak in the country, the world famous Kabayan mummies, and other tourism sites in the area like the Daclan hot springs in Bokod town.

He underscored the improvement of the road will make a big difference on agriculture and trade which is in line with the President's program of achieving food self-sufficiency and infrastructure development in the countryside.

During the inauguration of the Ambuklao by-pass road last December, President Arroyo instructed Ebdane to source out funds for the improvement of the Gorel-Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias-Abatan road to complete the linked between northern Benguet and the famous Banaue rice terraces in order to ensure the influx of more tourists to the Bokod and Kabayan towns, two of the less developed municipalities in Benguet.

But the President asserted improvement of the road should focus only to the concreting of the pavement and the construction of appropriate drainage facilities.

She discourage local officials and the implementing agency from pursuing widening works since such activity would disturb the stability of the mountain slopes which might complicate the situation in the future.

Dangwa hailed the effort of the President to ensure the development of Benguet before she steps down from power, saying it is only during her administration that this vegetable- producing province had received substantial assistance and recognition from the national government.

The 35-kilometer links up with the P1.7 billion Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya road and the 43-kilometer Abatan-Mankayan-Cervantes road which is now undergoing rehabilitation by virtue of a P682 million loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

According to Dangwa, the improvement of major road networks in the different province would surely spark a significant economic growth in the countryside due to increased economic activities of the people.