Bataoil watches closely P1B highway project for Lingayen

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – A congressman in Pangasinan is watching closely the P980 million appropriation for a highway project so it could not be diverted by the powers that be to other programs of the national government.

Pangasinan Second District Representative Leopoldo Bataoil

 He said that the sum was intended for the 2018 national budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways and would be used as funds for a highway, viaduct, and bridges here.

He told guests in the consultation meetings held at the Capitol Resort Hotel how this project can ease up the perennial traffic congestion in this capital town.

“According to the Resolution that I received sa taong bayan sa Sangguniang Bayan ng Lingayen. Their resolution said they encounter problem of traffic as a result of development. Lingayen is a capital town at hindi mo na mapipigilan ang pag angat nito, pagdating ng tao, pagdami ng sasakyan, business opportunity, negosyo. So what do we do to address problem?” he stressed in a meeting attended by residents and public officials here, officials of the DPWH from the province of Pangasinan and the regional office in San Fernando City, La Union.

He cited the construction of the almost one billion pesos project that will start from the boundary of Bugallon and Lingayen via Basing River to Barangay Pangapisan in Lingayen.

“Start from that section in Bugallon, Domalandan and then Baay. But instead you go straight toward the river Balingcaging so that road will be improved there on Balingcaging Bridge. It will be constructed towards the town center all the way towards Pangapisan. Iyan muna ang Phase (One)”.

Bataoil, a last term congressman, explained too that there are three ways to deal with the traffic snarl that burden the people here and the three ways to approach it.

“One is engineering solution. Two is education. Three is enforcement. So in like manner if you want to address development to address problem most especially traffic, implement ito next year. Matatapos iyan ng 2019”.

He said that the proposal of other residents here to forgo the plan and instead convert the road in San Jose Bridge to Helen Street into two lanes and add another lane from Palaris Street going the east by following the dike to Binmaley town would be expensive because the government would be buying more lands and paying more for properties that would be included in the expansion of the highway.