LUCENA City -- The completion of Quezon province’s coastal ecotourism road project designed to facilitate travel through coastal roads from this city to Batangas City is now being fast tracked by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a huge portion of it is nearing completion early this year.

Celestial Flancia, head of DPWH-Quezon 2nd Engineering District Office, said phases 1 and 2 of the project between Batangas and Quezon provinces, which is now almost seven years in the making, is expected to be completed soon to pave the way for its full use by motorists.

In an interview over Radio City-105.3 FM, through its anchor, Arnel Avila, Flancia said phases 1 and 2 of the 29- kilometer road project links Bgy. Bantilan, (boundary of San Juan, Batangas and Sariaya, Quezon) and Bgy. Talim in Lucena City, while phase 3 connects Bgy. Talaan of Sariaya and Bgy. Bocohan of Lucena City.

Flancia said the P1.3-billion project was conceptualized by then Quezon congressman and now Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and then DPWH regional director Bonifacio Seguit aimed at easing vehicular traffic and boosting the livelihood opportunities in the 2nd district.

She said Alcala’s son, Quezon 2nd district Rep. Irvin Alcala, is funding the road project.

Asked what took them so long to finish the project, Flancia said its budget is allocated yearly by the DPWH and the district representative through his pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). She also explained that it took them years to settle the problem on road right of way with the land owners affected by the project.

Flancia also reported the completion of the 7.5-km Candelaria bypass road in March or April this year. She said with the opening of the road, travel time for Manila from this city and vice versa will be reduced by 30 percent.   Gemi Formaran