Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar has announced that the ongoing construction of an access toad leading to the Mapita Community and View deck to Nayong Aguilar in Aguilar, Pangasinan is expected to improve the access of communities of Indigenous Peoples to social services.
“The new Daang Katutubo, aimed to benefit Kankanaey, Bago, and Ibaloi groups in Barangay Mapita, is now 64% complete,” Villar said.
“This road improvement will allow the indigenous people to have better access to basic social services available in more urbanized areas.”
“This road improvement will give a boost to the growth of tourism, provide economic opportunities, and will allow the indigenous people to have better access to basic social services available in more urbanized areas,” the public works chief added.
In his report to the public works head and Senior Undersecretary for Luzon Operations Rafael Yabut, DPWH Region 1 Director Ronnel Tan said that a total amount of P934 million under a multi-year program is proposed for the completion of the access road with a total length of 27.6-kilometers.
Travel time from the town proper of Aguilar, Pangasinan to the community will be reduced from one hour to just 30 minutes.
Once completed, travel time from the town proper of Aguilar, Pangasinan to the community will be reduced from one hour to just 30 minutes and will also provide more reliable access to the view deck of the Ylang Ylang Plantation at Nayong Aguilar.
The access road project involves the construction of concrete roads, a 120.9-meter bridge, drainage, slope protection, pavement markings, and road safety facilities aimed to be fully serviceable by 2022.
“DPWH is working full-time to deliver this project on time in order to help promote the growing agro-tourism industry and provide more opportunities for the local community in Aguilar,” Villar concluded.