on Saturday, August 26, 2017
BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN

EB MAGALONA – The Bacolod Negros economic highway, which has been extended from Bacolod City to Victorias City, already has a budget of P600 million for its first phase of implementation by the Department of Public Works and Highway, Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), said yesterday.

Benitez said he was told by DPWH Secretary Mark Villar that he may increase the P600 million budget, which is already included the 2018 General Appropriations Act.

b With the construction of the extended economic highway now started in Victorias City, Benitez said he also intends to further expand it to the 1st and 2nd districts.

It will be a four-lane economic highway, he added.

From Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City, it will take 45 minutes to travel to Victorias City, Benitez, who also led the blessing of the video board at the EB Magalona public plaza, also said.

The construction of the first phase economic highway in Victorias City is now ongoing. It is targeted completing in February next year. The contract cost is P144.2 million, with Alfie’s Construction as the contractor.

The airport road from Bacolod City to Silay City is now also being expanded into four lanes, with foot walks along its two sides.

The civil work on the construction of the 21.8-kilometer economic highway in Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City, is also ongoing.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia,who initiated the economic highway project when he was congressman, had said it is the biggest single infrastructure project for Bacolod City, that he expects to ease traffic and open new growth areas in the city.*