A P14 million rehabilitation project supposedly up for bidding as announced by Gov. Edgar Chatto Friday will have to wait a little longer as its Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) is yet to be received by the Department of Public Works and Highways First Engineering District. The rehab project is crucial for its importance as it involves the repair and rehabilitation of a stretch of the Cortes-Maribojoc highway where several landslides occurred in the past. The landslide—prune area is in barangay Liloan in Cortes town. The stretch of highway which was carved out from a mountain located before reaching the town proper was declared a one-way street after it caved in due to landslides in the past.

Motorists in going to Maribojoc has to pass a circuitous route to the Cortes town proper before going downhill through a road bounding the landslide-prune site. The one-way street is for motorists going to this city from Maribojoc and other parts up north. Gov. Chatto happily announced Friday during his weekly radio program “Kita, ug ang Gobernador”, that the bidding of the rehab project was scheduled on October 14. But a check with the local DPWH showed that the SARO for the project was yet to be released. It was learned that the office of District Engineer Ted Castillo of the DPWH succeeded in having the allotment for the rehab project released to start the road’s repair. Not a few motorists were complaining of the inconvenience they encounter as they cruise the circuitous detour route.