Palace: Government Has Right of Way in Leyte Road-Widening Project

The government has the right of way in the project to expand roads in Palo, Leyte, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said on Tuesday.

“Ayon po kay (Public Works) Secretary (Rogelio) Singson, ang pinapairal ng DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) ay ang road right of way, na karapatan ng pamahalaan. At sa pagkilos po nila ay kinokonsulta at nakikipag-ugnayan po sila sa mga local government units and affected stakeholders,” Coloma told reporters during a press briefing in Malacañang.

He was responding to a question on the fate of heritage homes that will be affected by the road-widening project in Palo.

“Ayon din po sa kanyang katugunan ay wala pa silang partikular na aksyon doon sa mga itinuturing na ancestral homes,” he added.

According to media reports, the DPWH has begun demolishing some houses in Palo to expand the road by 10 meters from the center line, in preparation for the visit of Pope Francis in Tacloban City in January next year.

The project will reportedly cover a number of ancestral houses in the town of Palo and Tacloban City. PND

Source: PCOO