A new modern road network linking the province of Albay to Donsol, Sorsogon will soon be constructed after it was included among six critical road projects assured of funding under the Millenium Challenge Account Philippines Compact Project (MCAPCP), a grant facility of the United States of America. The road project consists of 26.90 kilometers of concrete road and five bridges with an aggregate length of 75 meters. The project will entail a cost of P814.6 million.

An initiative of the Albay provincial government, the Guinobatan-Jovellar-Donsol road which is linked to the Maharlika Highway will serve as the principal road to the Butanding-renowned town of Donsol, Sorsogon. This would be great boost to Bicol tourism as Donsol’s whale shark-watching eco-toursim activity now accounts for almost 80 percent of foreign tourists to Bicol.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said that “beyond tourism, the road project promotes the spatial integration of the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon into a more common economy.” The provincial government first presented the proposal last May 16, 2008 to the Millenium Challenge Compact mission headed by John Newko, his deputy Darius Teter, Darius Nassiry, country director of compact development and Jerry Dutkewych, director of country relations. The briefing was held at the Department of Finance boardroom in Manila.

A year later, the Region V Regional Development Council headed by Gov. Salceda adopted a resolution endorsing the said project for MCAPCP funding. The RDC said the project is consistent with the Guicadale (Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Legazpi) Integrated Area Development Platform, which represents the provincial roads in the southern part of the province, economically viable with an estimated Economic Internal Rate of Return of 22.60 percent.

The Albay-Donsol road project is expected to complement the proposed Southern Luzon International Airport in Alobo, Daraga, Albay which is about 10 kms via provincial road. It is also close to the proposed PNR Mainline South Central Station in Comun, Camalig and will traverse parallel to the Maharlika Highway to Sorsogon.

Salceda said the project conforms with the thrusts and priorities of the Bicol region. “It will provide the linkages with the other modes of transportation and will complement the agriculture, tourism and social services sectors,” he added.

The governor explained that the road will sustain regional industries and agricultural activities. It will also contribute to socio-economic development and provide faster, more convenient, and shorter access in transporting goods from rural to urban areas.

The proposed project is linked to three ports- Pilar port through Pilar-Donsol Road, Pioduran port through Pioduran-Donsol road and Pantao port through the Albay West Coast Road. It is also accessible to four national roads Maharlika Highway, LIbon-Pantao Road, Ligao-Pioduran Road, Guinobatan-Jovellar Road and Albay West Coast Road.

Source: The Daily Tribune, May 20, 2009