P9.1M Sta. Catalina road project unveiled
The Sta. Catalina road project, considered a major project of the city government under the administration of Mayor Celso Lobregat, was formally inaugurated yesterday morning easing traffic in the area.
Equipped with a drainage system, the road project cost P9.1 million. It is 640 linear meters in length and stretches from the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) at the junction of Veterans’ Avenue up to the boundary of Kasanyangan Village.
Mayor Lobregat said the newly concreted road is a continuation of an earlier road project (Phase I) that started from Sta. Catalina barangay hall up to the Rojo Compound. “This is in line with our commitment to develop Barangay Sta. Catalina,” Lobregat said, adding that the amount of P2.3 million has already been appropriated for the opening of a new road at the Tanglaw ng Tahanan Urban Poor Association, of the same barangay.
The opening of the road yesterday will help ease traffic situation in the area and will accelerate economic activities in that part of the city.
The P9.1 million road project with drainage system is only part of the over P64 million worth of infrastructure projects allocated for Barangay Sta. Catalina since 2007 todate.
While there, Lobregat also directed City Engineer Luis Vicente Despalo to coordinate with the barangay officials of Sta. Catalina to pave the way for the major rehabilitation of the barangay’s health center to make it more beautiful and presentable.
Lobregat at the same time challenged the barangay council of Sta. Catalina headed by Chairman Manuel Q. Banua to ensure that the newly concreted road is free from any obstruction, and that no vending shall allowed.
“Keep up cleanliness and orderliness, especially the sidewalks so that pedestrians could walk through freely,” Lobregat urged the barangay officials during the simple turnover program. He said that starting yesterday the barangay tanod, traffic aides and the police shall complement each other in manning traffic in front of the ZCMC.
Meanwhile, Kagawad Fidel Milan earnestly thanked Mayor Lobregat for the road concreting and drainage project, saying it augurs well for the development of Barangay Sta. Catalina.
Milan, a retired teacher of the Zamboanga City High School Main, recalled that before the road was concreted most tricycle drivers did not want to bring passengers to Sta. Catalina because the road was very much dilapidated. “Ara bien bonito ye el camino, el maga drivers ya mismo amo el ta cumbida pasajero para aki Sta. Catalina,” Milan said as he repeatedly thanked the city government for the many projects lined up for his barangay.
Present during the inauguration were ZCMC chief Dr. Romeo Ong, City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr., Executive Assistant Percival Ramos, OIC-police chief Sr. Supt. Jumli Sappal, infrastructure consultant Engr. Antonio Sta. Elena, Housing and Land Management Division chief Rodrigo Pagotaisidro, Engr. Robert Villavieja of RCDA Construction, Engr. Despalo and the entire barangay council. From Sta. Catalina, Mayor Lobregat together with Engr. Despalo and Ramos proceeded to Barangay Divisoria where they again unveiled the rehabilitation of a two-storey six-classroom building worth P1.5 million.
They were joined by City Schools Division Superintendent Dolores Alcanta, the school principal, teachers, parents and pupils of the Divisoria Elementary School, and the barangay officials headed by Chairman Santiago F. Macrohon. (Vic Larato)