Three road projects lined up from the DPWH include the Quirino Highway Project, the Camarines Sur-Albay Diversion Road, and the Catanduanes Circumferential Road Phase II. The Quirino Highway Project addresses the fair to bad condition of certain road sections along the jurisdiction of Quezon Province in Region IV-A and Camarines Norte and Sur in Region V. An improvement option which calls for the asphalt concrete overlay of some 21.655 kms. and Portland cement concreting/asphalt concrete overlay of another 69.537 kms. with total project cost of PhP 848.593 Million and PhP 1,458.8 Million, respectively, was approved by the RDC Secretariat. The project is proposed for funding under the Korea-EDCP Project Loan and Project Preparation Facility.

Camarines Sur - Albay Diversion Road is an RDC5 priority project under the Luzon Transport Master Plan that will facilitate inter-regional linkages with Visayas and Mindanao and other Southern Luzon provinces.

Specifically, it proposes a bypass route along the Pan-Philippine Highway (PPH) between the municipalities of San Fernando, Camarines Sur and Oas, Albay. Congestion along the PPH that occurs as a result of perennial flooding during the rainy season along the main road section is expected to be eased by the project. It is economically viable for construction with a two-lane Portland Cement Concrete pavement. However, an instruction by the President to the DPWH during a Joint RDC-Cabinet Meeting to have the road section asphalted to reduce cost, provided that a reliable and efficient road transport can be achieved, shall be considered. The estimated project cost is PhP 2,249.5 Million The Secretariat recommended for its endorsement to the NEDA-ICC for inclusion in the JBIC 27th Yen Loan Package.

Catanduanes Circumferential Road Phase II is a 120.36 km. national road, which forms part of the whole of the island's circumferential road. It is a continuing link of the San Andres (Codon) - Virac-Jct. Bato Viga Section. The estimated project cost is PhP 2.8 Billion allocated into three sections: 1) Viga-Bagamanoc, 9.49 kms., PhP 321.667 Million; 2) Bagamanoc-Pandan, 48.65 kms., PhP 1,190.483 Million; and 3) Pandan-Codon, 62.22 kms., PhP 1,259.792 Million. Proposed for assistance under the JBIC 27th Yen Loan Package, the project is recommended by the RDC Secretariat for endorsement to the Government of Japan.

The proposed Bicol International Airport, whose name was agreed upon by the RDC5 last September 26, 2006, through Resolution 05-79, will again be brought to the Council's attention. This time it seeks RDC's approval and endorsement to the DOTC-Air Transportation Office (ATO) and to the NEDA-Public Investment Staff for the conduct of a Detailed Feasibility Study, which is indispensable for the project to attract funding support from would-be investors.

Source: Bicol Development Updates
               Regional Development Council, NEDA, Region V