Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered on Thursday the start of a P31-million road redevelopment project for Naga City that will provide wider pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, and facilities for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The project along Melchor T. Villanueva Avenue in Barangay Liboton is expected to be completed within six to seven months, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.
‘Our priority is pedestrians and their safety. Walkable streets are equally important as streets for vehicles,’ Dizon told reporters in an interview.
He said the DPWH is implementing similar projects in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, including expanding sidewalks and bike lanes and expanding PWD-friendly facilities.
No trees will be cut as part of the project, following Mayor Leni Robredo’s directive to preserve them and provide shade for pedestrians.
‘Shade is important so the public can freely enjoy walking,’ Dizon said, referring to the mayor’s directive.
The project will also include a proper drainage system to help address flooding in the area, Dizon said.
He said the DPWH was prioritizing pedestrian safety and walkability amid rising fuel prices.
‘Especially now, we are feeling the pain of very high gasoline prices,’ he said.
Mayor Robredo said the project was important for everyone’s safety, considering that it is a four-lane national highway.
‘It is very beneficial. The three big schools are here, with many vulnerable pedestrians. It is a four-lane national highway, and vehicles tend to speed up, so it is very dangerous,’ Robredo said.
She added that the construction work would be carried out in the morning to minimize noise and disturbance to nearby residents.