Local communities can now experience improved road access following the completion of a concrete paving project in sections of the Culandanum-Panalingaan Cross Country Road by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bataraza, Palawan.

Regional Office IV-B (Mimaropa) Director Gerald Pacanan said the newly constructed 5.072-kilometer road will improve accessibility to businesses and essential services in Bataraza and its neighboring towns.

Implemented by DPWH Palawan 2nd District Engineering Office, the project involves portland concrete cement paving works with a width of 6.70 meters and thickness of 280 millimeters, with concrete shoulders on both sides and provision of concrete box and pipe culverts, line canals, and grouted riprap to prolong service life.

“The completion of this project is instrumental not only in advancing the transportation network in Palawan but also in stimulating economic growth and improving the quality of life for the residents in the area,” Pacanan said in a media release on Monday.

Also included in the road project are safety features, including metal guardrails on concrete posts and chevron signs for optimal visibility even in low-light conditions.

The Culandanum-Panalingaan Cross Country Road is a secondary road linking Barangay Culandanum and Panalingaan to the municipality of Bataraza.

Funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2023, the road paving project was completed for PHP84.62 million. (PNA)