Sabang road project to begin soon

In fulfillment of one of his campaign promises, Mayor Rockey Ilagan announced that the first phase of the Sabang road construction will start this March or April. The Mayor said that the national government allotted P25 million this year and another P25 million for 2018 to complete the road project.

The initial plan of an 8-meter wide road did not push through as affected landowners opposed the idea. The Mayor met with 48 landowners who afterwards gave the chief executive consent for the required right of way of the proposed road widening. In a phone interview, the Mayor said that he was able to negotiate a wider road and that “the road will be less than 8 meters, but definitely more than 4 meters in width.”

The Mayor also said that the road must be completely closed to traffic during the construction period. The first phase to last for 3 months will start from Poblacion up to Palangan. The second phase in 2018 to last also for 3 months will start from Palangan to Sabang. The second phase will also have a budget of P25 million.

The explanation for the full closure of the road is simple – Quality. The contractor can only assure that the new Sabang road will be built properly if the under-layer and the foundation will be done over the entire width of the road and not the usual half now, half later procedure.

Another addition to the Sabang road is a detour from the carwash (Castillo farm) going up to Sinandigan and down to the Sabang intersection.

The Mayor said he had finished consultation with Sabang residents and separate meetings with residents of Sinandigan and Palangan will be done to inform and prepare the public to make the adjustment while the road is being constructed.

Meanwhile, many residents of Sabang have voiced their opposition using Social Media to the proposed complete closure of the road. They said that residents of the 3 barangays as well as workers and visitors will be greatly affected by the road closure. They are petitioning the Mayor to reconsider and use the half now, half later road construction method.

Further, during inclement weather, Sabang will be totally inaccessible and the greatest concern will be medical emergencies and the welfare of senior citizens and students.

Councilor Medel Candava said that it is the Council that has the right to close any road and that the Sangguniang Bayan will have to consult the affected residents before making a decision.