BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed Friday that P1.8 billion worth of road projects in different parts of Cordillera is under way to help improve the inter-municipal, inter-provincial and inter-regional linkages for livelier economic activity in the countryside.

DPWH-Cordillera Regional Director Edilberto Carabbacan said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) already released the corresponding Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) of the 15 road projects that allowed them to bid out the same.

“Project implementers are now working double-time to complete the projects,” said Carabbacan.

The funded road projects include the Rizal national road in Kalinga – P93.4 million; Bulanao-Paracelis road – P93.9 million; Kabugao-Pudtol-Luna-Cagayan boundary road- P57.1 million; Abra-Kalinga road – P50.5 million; Kalinga-Abra road – P80.3 million; Mountain Province-Ilocos Sur road via Tue in Tadian – P142.4 million; Baguio circumferential road – P140 million; Balbalan-Pinukpok road – P100 million; Abra-Kalinga road – P143.7 million;
The Abra-Ilocos Norte road – P78 million; Gorel-Bokod-Buguias-Abatan road – P115.4 million; Gorel-Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias-Abatan road – P98 million; Sto. Tomas – Manabo Bridge along Sto. Tomas-Manabo road – P160 million; Mountain Province-Calanan-Pinukpok-Abbot road – P209 million; and the Balbalan-Pinukpok road – P245 million.

Carabbacan said the 15 road projects are part of the P3.4 billion worth of infrastructure projects lined up by the national government for the region this year but some of the same were already downloaded by the agency to the different district offices since the amount of the projects are within the ceiling of the district offices to bid out and award to qualified contractors.