Published in the Visayan Daily Star newspaper on April 11, 2017
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday welcomed the proposed construction of a coastal road traversing Bacolod, Talisay, Silay and Victorias cities and E.B. Magalona town in Negros Occidental.

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3 rd District) and Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya filed a bill providing for the construction of the coastal road at the House of Representatives on March 13.

Earlier, Gasataya had said that when completed, the coastal road estimated to be about 35.8 kilometers long, will open new areas for development in Bacolod and in the third district.

Leonardia said he welcomed the development that a bill had been filed for the construction of a coastal road because this is one project that they had been envisioning and discussing with the late Talisay mayor Anthony Lizares before.

When he assumed office again last year, he also discussed with incumbent Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares the possibility of putting up a coastal road connecting Bacolod and Talisay, he said.

Leonardia said the reality isthat if it is a big project, the city will have difficulty funding it. That is why it is better if this will be funded by the national government.

He assumes that the proposed coastal road project will be connected to Banago Port and BREDCO Port. If that is done, it will have a significant economic impact on the city, he said.

“The way I see it, and as we had conceptualized it, this could also be a way of cleaning up the shorelines of Bacolod,” Leonardia said.

with a coastal road, there will be no more houses along the shoreline while thoseaffected will be given provisions so their livelihood will not be affected, he said.

The next step should be a coastal road going to the south. And this proposal from the city had already been approved in the Regional Development Council last month, he added.

DREAMS TO REALITY

Leonardia said he believes thatthese steps they are taking will eventually lead to the realization of the project. But this will depend on the actual study and actual engineering findings.

He also said this reminded him ofthe time when theygave a 3D presentation of the government center, which seemed just like a dream, but eventually  became a reality, he said.

“Everything starts with a dream and if we continue to dream, we will someday achieve this,” Leonardia added.

Meanwhile, a resolution requesting the Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, DPWH Bacolod Engineering district and Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya to include as one of their priority projects the creation of the Bacolod Coastal Access Road that will stretch from Barangays Punta-Taytay, Sum-ag, Pahanocoy, Tangub, Singcang-airport, 35, the Reclamation Area, and will also pass through Barangays 1, 2, 3 and Banago, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Friday.

The resolution said the roads within the City of Bacolod can no longer accommodate the increasing number of vehicles that cause frequent traffic congestions.

The on-going construction of the Bacolod Economic Highway has been identified as the best solution to ease the traffic congestions in the eastern part of the city, particularly in the Circumferential Road, since sugarcane trucks will be diverted to pass the highway, it said.

TRAFFIC CONNECTION

Despite the creation of the Bacolod Economic Highway, traffic congestions in other major roads of the city will still exist, particularly within the downtown area, Araneta, San Juan and Lacson Streets, the resolution said.

To address this issue and to ease the congestion in the center of the City, the solution brought up during several consultations and meetings of concerned agencies and city departments, is to create a coastal highway that will span the areafrom Barangay Punta-taytay, Sum-ag, Pahanocoy, Tangub, Singcang-Airport, 35, Reclamation Area, 1, 2, 3 and Banago, it said.

The coastal access road will serve as alternate and fast access route for delivery and cargo trucks, or other vehicles going to the ports of the city, the resolution said.

COASTAL ROAD

The creation of the coastal access road, like the Bacolod Economic Highway, will be very beneficial to the people of Bacolod and will enhance the accessibility of the city, which is necessary for tourism and economic development, it said.

The resolution was authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito and co-authored by Councilors Em Ang, Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero, Dindo Ramos, Elmer Sy and Bartolome Orola Sr.*CGS