Safer and convenient mobility to the upland barangays of Leon and the neighboring town of Alimodian in central Iloilo is ensured with the construction of four slope protection structures provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Undertaken by DPWH, Iloilo 4th District Engineering Office, the structures are built along Junction Bancal-Leon-Antique Boundary Road, in various barangays of Leon, to ensure the safety of road users and people in the community from danger of rockfall, landslide, and soil erosion especially when heavy rains occur.
Based on the report of District Engineer (DE) Mario G. Soriano, Regional Director (RD) Nerie D. Bueno said these structures will help stabilize the slope to last a long time, prevent possible damage to the surrounding and community, and protect people from injury.
“These structures are built to prevent spalling and collapse of the slope due to rain scouring or weathering, and to help to avoid the deterioration of the slope and the fall of rocks on the road,” RD Nerie D. Bueno said.
“These road leads to mountainous communities in Leon and are very susceptible to landslide and rock fall especially when heavy rains occur, posing danger to commuters and residents, hence, these improvements will help preserve the lives and properties of the people living in the area,” Bueno added.
“We should ensure that our roads especially those in the highland areas are free from falling debris and erosion to provide a smooth and continuous flow of traffic, especially these days that we are experiencing series of rainfall.”
Meanwhile, DE Mario G. Soriano said these structures will not only ensure road safety but also help in the faster mobilization of people and products from farms to the market, and easier access to basic government services that could benefit even the people in remote areas.
“These (slope protection) structures will help in the faster delivery of agricultural products from the highland barangays of Leon and Alimodian to the market; and faster delivery of medical and other basic services to the people in the far-flung areas,” Soriano said
“These will provide also offer safer travel to Bucari Pine Forest in Brgy. Bucari, Leon which is considered as the ‘Little Baguio’ of Iloilo province and to other tourist destinations in Alimodian town like Imoy Falls and ‘Seven Cities’ which are known for organic vegetable production,” he added.
These slope protection projects with a collective amount of Php 319.186 million funded under the District’s FY 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA), are implemented into four sections/projects, which involve the provision of high tensile wire mesh, construction of concrete slope protection structures with stone masonry, concrete shoulders, lined canal, and metal guard rails in some areas
The first section is located in Sitio Tabionan in Barangay Bucari, with a length of 80 lineal meters in the amount of Php 48.99 million; the second section, in the amount of Php 88.77 million, is in Barangay Tagsing with a length of 100 lineal meters; third and fourth sections, with the amount Php 91.67 million and Php 89.73 million, respectively, is built in Barangay Maliao, both measures 100 lineal meters. (DPWH-6)
