Manila, June 8 (Engineering Daily) -- The ongoing road improvement project leading to Ormoc City’s Lake Janagdan will follow new alignment of similar length as planned but will no longer pass through timberlands.
 

District Engineer Lino Francisco C. Gonzalez of DPWH Leyte Fourth District Engineering Office (DEO) said that about 900-meter portion of the 4.4-kilometer Milagro-Cambantog-Cabingtan-Alto Peak Road Improvement and Construction Project will be realigned following series of coordination meeting with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Ormoc City Local Government Unit (LGU), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
 
“DENR confirmed that the new road alignment will only affect five (5) small trees and a number of dead tree stumps that have been damaged by Typhoon Yolanda,” said District Engineer Gonzales.
 
“It is necessary that infrastructure projects be carried out without causing adverse long-term effect in the environment given our commitment to sustainable development,” added Engineer Gonzales.
 
The construction of the access road leading to Lake Janagdan is part of the P159-million joint project of the DPWH and DOT to construct and improve access roads leading to declared tourism destinations at Ormoc City located within the Milagro-Cambantog-Cabingtan-Alto Peak Road that leads to Lake Janagdan ,AltoPeak ,and the Ormoc Vegetable Farm.
 
The project which involves the construction of a 4.4-kilometer, 6.1-meter wide concrete road with provision of slope protection, and reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings will end at the foot of the hill leading to Lake Janagdan where the Ormoc LGU is planning to create a staging area for tourists.
 
Upon completion, the improved road would further support the ecotourism destinations of Ormoc City, eventually promote environmental awareness and improve livelihood of locals.