TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Cagayan Third District Representative Randy Ting revealed that the government will spend P4.7 billion for the construction of mega bridge connecting Tuguegarao and Solana.
In a press briefing at the sidelines of his birthday celebration on Sunday, February 4, Ting said the feasibility study of the project has already been completed and is set to be submitted to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The bridge, according to Ting, was proposed to decongest the heavy traffic flow in the 50-year old Buntun bridge south of Tuguegarao.
“Nasa akin na ‘yung hard copy ‘nung feasibility study at ibibigay ko na lang sa Department of Public Works and Highways kaso hindi pa dumating si regional director kasi Sunday ngayon, pero nasa akin na ‘yung kopya,” Ting said.
“This has long been overdue project that we needed but unfortunately, when I asked the secretary of Public Works and Highways, ang palagi niyang sinasabi, it has not completed the feasibility study, tapos it cannot be funded because kulang pa ng ganyan, it was not endorsed, andaming dahilan,” he added.
With the completion of the feasibility study, the lawmaker said he will “insist” and “work harder” on the funding of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
“So it was funded already this year P200 million to start with, so hopefully, mapopondohan ‘yung up to 2022. So okay na, nandun na sa akin ‘yung schedule. So it means to say na dahil nasa akin na ‘yung feasibility study, I will work harder for the appropriation of the amount needed to construct the bridge,” Ting added.
He said the P200 million was already approved in the 2018 budget and will be used for the road right of way acquisition and some construction.
Ting, in an interview with The Northern Forum, Ting said he had filed a bill for the construction of the bridge across Cagayan River.
He said the bill is being supported by several bills he also filed to convert some provincial and local roads into national road to facilitate the construction of the mega bridge.
The new bridge, according to him, is seen to create new bypass roads to loosen up the heavy traffic in the center and southern part of Tuguegarao. Northernforum.net
