TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines– The provincial government of Isabela ordered the temporarily closure of the Ilagan to Divilacan road to pave way for road rehabilitation and improvement.
In an executive order, Governor Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said the provincial government started constructing bridges and rip-raps (side armor).
Dy said they have implemented the rehabilitation of the road due to reported vehicular mishaps and road safety problems.
“[This is] due to overzealous motorists who have attempted to use the road as means to reach the municipalities of Divilacan and Maconacon, as test sites for their all-terrain vehicles, or to ferry illegally harvested rattan and other products,” Dy said.
Dy added that “unplanned, unsolicited, and undesirable” activities along the along and around the road may pose risks and other problems to the project, project contractors and the motorists.
He said that the road is not yet “prepared to accommodate vehicles other than those used in the project” as it not yet fully rehabilitated and improved, and construction of certain bridges and road sections are still ongoing.
Single motorcycles used to carry passengers to and from their work in Divilacan, however, are allowed to use to road.
The 82-kilometer project was started in March 2016 and is expected to be completed this year.
The project aimed to give easy road access to Divilacan and neighboring coastal towns. Originally, these coastal towns of Isabela could only be reached through boat from Santa Ana town in Cagayan province; through a chopper; and through Aurora province roads. Northernforum.net
