SOURCE: PIA CARAGA
In the heart of the Caraga Region, a monumental development is unfolding. The Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) has announced an ambitious plan that will transform the economic and social landscape of the region. This massive undertaking is the Surigao City-Nonoc Island-Dinagat-Leyte road network, a project that will connect major areas of Visayas and Mindanao.
The project, estimated to cost P167 billion, is set to be the RDC's first priority project and program (PAP) for presentation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in April 2024. Spearheaded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the implementation of this inter-regional infrastructure project is expected to span from 2025 to 2040.
At present, the Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Visayas are primarily connected by sea transportation. This limitation becomes even more significant during the typhoon season, which averages around 20 typhoons per year. The lack of a bridge connecting these areas has resulted in high poverty incidence, with transportation costs causing a high inflation rate in Dinagat Islands.
The road network project promises to bring many benefits. The new infrastructure will establish a resilient, seamless, and inclusive transportation system in the region. The project is also expected to reduce the local inflation rate to 2.4 percent by the end of 2028, increase local investment, and decrease travel time for the delivery of goods and services.
Gov. Nilo P. Demerey Jr. of the Province of Dinagat Islands and chairperson of the Caraga RDC expressed his gratitude to the council and stakeholders for supporting the project. He stressed that the project would solve the problem of inadequate modes of transportation, especially during adverse weather conditions.
According to DPWH Regional Director Pol P. Delos Santos, the project will consist of eight bridges, including two long bridges, two short bridges, and four viaducts. It will also involve the construction of four coastal viaduct roads spanning 20.77 kilometers, and several other bridges connecting Surigao City to Nonoc Island and Dinagat Islands.
The meeting with the President is part of the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) initiative to strengthen the link between the Public Investment Program and the Regional Development Investment Program. The council aims to advocate the inclusion of the regional priority projects in the calendar year 2025 agency budget proposals and in the National Expenditure Program.
In addition to the road network project, the Caraga RDC chairperson and key officials will present the remaining two priority PAPs of the region. These include the full functionality of the Caraga Regional Hospital and Adela Serra-Ty Memorial Medical Center as Level III hospitals, and the upgrade of Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital and Butuan Medical Center to Level III from Levels I and II hospitals.
Another priority is the establishment of an integrated grain processing center in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. This strategic initiative is aimed at bolstering agricultural productivity in the region.
With high hopes, the Caraga RDC believes that these key projects will significantly bolster the region's development trajectory and contribute substantially to the Caraga Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2023-2028's long-term goals, ushering in a new era of growth and prosperity for the region.
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