Saddle Road To Be Replaced With Diversion Road By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A narrow road chiseled beside a deep cliff dubbed as saddle road by the locals, a dangerous path leading to San Ricardo town in the Panaon Island, shall be replaced with about 1.5 kilometers diversion road. This was the disclosure of District Engineer Carlos Veloso in an ambush interview at the stage of the Provincial Capitol playground where some provincial, municipal and city officials have gathered during the 52nd Founding Day anniversary in the province of Southern Leyte. The Engineer said that the releasing of funds for the first phase of work of the new diversion road might be done before the end of this year or early next year. The receiving of the initial P50M funds in his office, he explained, would mean the start of the bidding and to be followed by construction of the aforesaid project. Veloso informed that the DPWH secretary has already visited saddle road and the lower part of the cliff where the proposed diversion road is to be constructed. He explained that his office has chosen the lower part of the area of the dangerous road to lessen the expenditures of opening a new road atop, but a safe way which would entails bigger budget. On the other hand, this threatening road which causes trepidation among most of the passengers/travelers passing the area by buses has already served for the past several years in spite of its dangerous location. The simple reason is that no-one among those who have surveyed the area in the past was able to pinpoint a safer terrain for the construction of a road in going to the municipality of San Ricardo. Due to some vehicular accidents happening at the peculiar road for the past years, as claimed by the local folks, an NGO has sent recently petitions to the DPWH Secretary in Manila to build another road leading to San Ricardo thats safe for both the passenger buses, travelers and motorists in the area. Asked how much funds would be needed for the second and final phase of road construction, he replied that the estimated amount needed would depend on the remaining length of the road that needs concreting for its completion.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)