Pilar Circumferential Road Nears Completion

The municipality of Pilar will soon get a fully cemented road as civil works continue for its 24.4 kilometer-circumferential road.

The circumferential road is the main thoroughfare of the town, which occupies the Ponzon Island- the farthest fraction of the Camotes group of islands.

At least 19 kilometers of the road is now concreted, according to its Municipal Engineer Robertson Borinaga. Work is still ongoing for the more or less remaining five kilometers.

The concreting of the circumferential started during the previous administration. Gov. Hilario P. Davide III poured in an additional Php15 million for the continuation of the project.

Last December, the municipal government officiated a ribbon cutting ceremony for some paved road sections during Gov. Davide and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale’s visit to the town.

With the help of the national government agencies, Pilar was able to get a Php95 million road rehabilitation/improvement project under Department of Tourism (DOT) – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Convergence Program. The project covers at least 6.45 kms of the circumferential road.

Borinaga said the road sections concreted using the funds of the convergence program are thicker and wider. The municipality was able to secure bigger budget allocations through this program.

Pilar Mayor Jesus Fernandez Jr. estimated that all concreting projects of the circumferential road would be finished by September.

The mayor also welcomed the extension and rehabilitation of the existing pier in his town. The project, which is implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communications and Cebu Port Authority, is worth more than P38 million.

The project componentincludesthe provision of a Rororamp, which could open up more economic opportunities in the island.

Recently, a known land developer constructed a first-ever beach resort in the town.

“Usually, our visitors end up going to the other town of San Francisco because we have no rooms for overnight stay,” said Borinaga.

San Francisco, along with the towns of Poro and Tudela are adjacently located in separate islands. Travel to the port in Hagutapay, Puertobello, Tudela from Pilar proper via roro vessel takes almost an hour. And if the travel is by pump boat from Cawit, Pilar to Hagutapay port, takes 15 to 20 minutes.

By Xerxes Alkuino

www.cebu.gov.ph