May 15,2012 Saddle Road To Be Replaced With P50M Diversion Road By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The saddle road of which its improvement was discusse d at the Agas-Agas building in a presscon with DPWH officials during the recent media tour of the latters projects, would no longer push through as planned. Instead, thru the NGOs petitions son in Manila, the dangerous road be replaced with the construction oing to brgy.Benit in San Ricardo addressed to the new DPWH Secretary Rogelio Sing in going to San Ricardo, Panaon Island, shall of a P50M worth 2- iometer diversion road in g town.

This was the revelation of SL District Engineer Carlos Veloso during a presscon with Congressman Roger Mercado (held at the Villa Romana Hotel((tel no.(053)3810639)in answer to Pinn Baybays inquiry regarding the sad condition of the dangero us saddle road that needs immediate attention by the concerned office. Ping Baybay is the editor/publisher of the Southern Leyte Balita. Benit where another roro port was constructed and inaugurated(aside from that of Liloan roro port) by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in April 2010,has also provided se a service to travelers in going to Mindanao via Surigao City in less than an ho ur, according to a reliable source. Saddle road is a narrow road curved along the steep cliff in going to San Ricardo town, which is the only way to reach the place. It was claimed by some nowledge able people of the place that several accidents have occurred during the past ye ars. On the other hand, Engr.Veloso informed Congressman Mercado and the media that a ll the ongoing constructions of three bridges in Combado, Abgao and San Roque, M acrohon are expected to be finished on June 30, 2012. He said he received instructions from Secretary Singson that the 3 projects must be completed on such date when all inds of vehicles could already pass through it. He said he told the contractors about the Secretarys order and assured him to com ply with Singsons desire. With the upcoming construction of the diversion road, after the winning bidder/c ontractor would sign the contract, it is hopefully expected that the project wou ld start as soon as possible. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)