The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will push the construction of Tacloban-Palo Diversion Road Project in 2019 in order to decongest traffic and curb flooding in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte Province.
Director Nerie Bueno of DPWH-Region 8 said that the proposed 2.87-kiometer, 4-lane road starting from San Jose-Candahug Road in Tacloban City to Maharlika Highway in Barangay Campetic, Palo, Leyte, traversing the village of Pawing is designed to decongest vehicular traffic at Maharlika Highway and alleviate flooding problem in the area.
“We have included Tacloban-Palo Diversion Road Project in our 2019 proposed budget. We hope to commence the road project soon as it is among our priority projects that will serve as an alternate route to relieve traffic congestion at the Junction of Maharlika Highway, Tacloban-Baybay South Road, and Government Center Road,” said Director Bueno.
Director Bueno said the project will also protect lives and properties of residents living in flood-prone barangays of Palo and Tacloban City with its flood-control component composed of a 6-meter wide drainage and a double barrel cross drainage in every 50 meters.
Bigger drainage will mitigate flooding in the Barangays of Candahug, Pawing, and Campetic in Palo, Leyte; and Barangays Caibaan, San Jose, Marasbaras, Manlurip, as well as V&G Subdivision and Imelda Subdivision in Tacloban City which normally turn into swamp lands during rainy and typhoon season and take weeks for floodwaters to subside.
When completed, Tacloban-Palo Diversion Road which will also be completed with bike lanes, sidewalk, service road, solar street lights and road safety device components, is also seen to convert the idle, flood-prone lands into prime commercial districts of the province.
DPWH will have to secure about P2 Billion to complete the entire Tacloban-Palo Diversion Road which will be implemented in six (6) packages.