NAGA CITY, Oct. 19 (PIA) - "Sa Naga, dagos-dagos an pag uswag dawa sa panahon nin pandemya." (In Naga, progress continues even in the midst of pandemic).

These are the words of Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion as the construction of the Almeda-Mabolo Bypass Road commence with the Earthmoving Ceremony held Thursday, Oct. 15 at Almeda Highway, here.

The 2-kilometer, 20-meter wide bypass road is an integrated solution to multiple problems of the City as it will ease the traffic congestion along Diversion Road, opens new growth area for tourism and business with the establishment of People's Park and Recreational Center, and the Bicol River Esplanade, among others.

The local government of Naga will ask the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fulfill its plan to make it a 4-lane road with sidewalks, bike lane and tree lines.

"It will be so called multi-modal - with a space for vehicles, for bicycles, and for pedestrians. The tree line is very important to purify the air, as it is also needed by strollers and bikers," Legacion said.

The project which will be implemented by DPWH Camarines Sur 3rd District Engineering Office with an P18.7 million budget is expected to be completed by March 15, 2021. An additional P235M is expected for next year.

"We were given funding from 2020 budget with P20 million. This is good news, to be able to start the project. With the effort of the city government to lobby and request fund thru the honorable Congressman, a budget of P235M has been earmarked for next year's General Appropriation Fund," 3rd District Engineering Office Assistant District Engineer Richard Ragrario said.

A total of P500 million is possibly needed for the whole project that would include the construction of a bridge in Naga River going to Barangay Mabolo.

The realization of the project was also made possible with the support of the families who donated part of their land for the bypass road.

A Deed of Donation Signing was held on Oct. 12, between LGU Naga and the family of Antonio Martirez who donated 5,375 square meters, and the family of Gene Jaucian who donated 4,497 square meters of their land to the said project. (JRM-PIAV/Camarines Sur)