BUILDING A REGIONAL TRANSPORT BACKBONE

FOR A NEW REGION

The Major Regional Development Challenge

in the Cordillera Administrative Region,

PHILIPPINES

by Gregorio P. Ariz III

(29 Aug 2005, KRIHS, Korea)

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Background

CAR is a new region and there is need to physically integrate its provinces

Most major roads in CAR are west-bound to the Ilocos Region or east-bound to Cagayan Valley

One has to go outside the region passing through Regions I, II and III to reach northern CAR provinces

CAR provinces often get isolated during typhoons

The transport situation before CAR was created (1987)

Background (cont’n)

Description Percentage Remarks

bad to very bad

49.32% highest in Luzon

paved 21% other regions have 52% to 77% asphalt or concrete

incomplete or impassable

14% highest in Luzon

CAR has the worst national road network among all regions in Luzon

Source - Luzon Island Strategic Roads Master Plan, 2001.

The VISION is

Regional Integration

… and the PROJECT :

CRIP – Cordillera Roads Improvement Project

Its Goals

To integrate the region by directly connecting CAR provinces with each other

To provide lateral roads between Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and CAR

To provide year-round access to all CAR provinces

The CRIP

Cordillera Roads Improvement Project

Project Benefits

development of agriculture, industry and tourism potentials in provinces

increased trade between Regions I, II & CAR

improved access to, and delivery of government services

improved public safety and comfort

CAR is an eco-tourism destination because of its refreshing climate and natural attractions

•476 Tourist Sites

•845,000 Tourist Arrivals (2004)

The World Famous Banawe Rice Terraces

CAR is the prime producer of semi-temperate and sub-tropical vegetables, fruits and ornamentals in the Philippines

8 percent or 144,278 ha. of the region’s land area (1.8 M ha.) is agricultural

Project Benefits (cont’n)

year-round access to all provinces and municipalities

reduced travel time, distance, and costs

reduced vehicle operating costs

reduced road maintenance costs

availability of alternate routes in times of disaster

Its Components

1. The Cordillera Trunkline Road

Baguio-Bontoc-Tabuk-Kabugao

2. The Lateral Roads

Region I to CAR

Ilocos Norte-Apayao Solsona-Kabugao

Ilocos Sur-Abra Narvacan-Bangued

Ilocos Sur-Mt. Prov. Cervantes-Tadian-Bauko-Sabangan

La Union-Benguet Naguilian Road

Lateral Roads (cont’n) CAR to Region II

Apayao-Cagayan Kabugao-Pudtol-Luna-Cagayan

Kalinga-Cagayan Rizal-Enrile

Mt. Province-Isabela

Paracelis-Potia-Aurora

Ifugao-Isabela Banaue-Mayoyao-Aguinaldo- Potia-San Ramon

Benguet-N. Vizcaya

Baguio-Kayapa-Aritao

3. Other Strategic Roads

Region I to CAR

Ilocos Norte-Abra Nueva Era-Danglas-Bangued

Abra- Ilocos Sur Bangued-Luba-Tubo-Cervantes

Ilocos Sur-Benguet Cervantes-Mankayan-Abatan

La Union-Benguet San Gabriel-Kapangan-Acop

Agoo-Baguio Kennon Road

Other Strategic Roads (cont’n)

Region I to CAR (cont’n)

Benguet-Pangasinan

Baguio-Itogon-San Manuel

Between CAR Provinces

Mt. Province Bontoc-Banawe

Ifugao Paracelis-Potia

Kalinga-Cagayan Abbut-Tuao-Tuguegarao

Other Strategic Roads (cont’n)

CAR to Region II

Apayao-Cagayan Kabugao-Claveria

Kalinga-Cagayan Abbut-Tuao-Tuguegarao

Mt. Province-Isabela

Bontoc-Paracelis-Roxas

Ifugao-Nueva Vizcaya

Lagawe-Bagabag

Benguet-Pangasinan

Baguio-Itogon-San Manuel

•the trunkline

•the laterals

•other strategic roads

The CRIP Components :

What is the status of the 31 CRIP road sections?

Completed 4 sections

Naguilian Rd., Marcos HW, Tabuk-Enrile and Kennon Road

Part Completed/ Proposed

1 section

Bontoc-Banaue-Bagabag

Part Ongoing/ Proposed

1 section

Baguio-Mt. Data -Bontoc

Part Pipeline/ Proposed

1 section

Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias-Mankayan-Cervantes

status of CRIP sections…

Pipeline 1 section

Sabangan-Cervantes-Tagudin

Ongoing 2 sections

Baguio-Aritao and BLIST Circumferential Road

Proposed 21 sections

(various sections of the trunkline, lateral, strategic/alternate roads

Status of CRIP Road Sections (Based on Length)

Pipeline4%

Proposed76%

Ongoing12%

Completed8%

1,280.58 kms

140.8 kms

201.7 kms

67.1 kms

TOTAL LENGTH = 1690.22 km

Challenges/Issues

The sheer MAGNITUDE of resources required to develop CRIP

Local budgetary constraints (only P 250M per year)

The higher cost of highway construction in mountainous areas

Cost of Highway Construction in CAR (P Million/km)

Road Section

Year Cost(PhP)

Length(km)

Cost/ km

(PhP)

Naguilian Rd 1992-1995 531 M 46.71 11.4 M

Marcos HW 1997-2001 1.3 B 47.1 27.2 M

Halsema HW 2001-2006 1.0 B 80 12.5 M

Baguio-Aritao Rd 2004-2007 2.2 B 103.8 21.2 M

AVERAGE 18.1 M

Challenges/Issues (cont’n)

Low economic IRR or internal rate of return (vis-a-vis other projects/ regions)

Impact on indigenous peoples and on environment

High-Cost Items in Mountain Highway Construction :

•Slope Protection

•Drainage

•Excavation

•Blasting

•Special Structures

The Marcos Highway Viaduct (519m) and Rockshed (327m)

What we have done & are doing to advance CRIP?

Pre-feasibility Study (Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH-CAR,1991)

Requested DPWH/PMO-FS (Project Management Office for Feasibility Studies) to conduct FS of CRIP Sections

Assistance to PMO-FS in conduct of FS’s

advancing CRIP…

Advocacy: Regional Development Council (RDC)

Resolutions/ Endorsements Budget proposals Investment Programs RDC Dialogues with DPWH Central

Office (DPWH-CO)

RDC-DPWH-CO Dialogue (11Nov03)

advancing CRIP…

Advocacy… Coordination with other bodies (North

West Luzon Growth Quadrangle, Regional Development Councils I & II)

CAR participation in workshops (e.g. Subic DPWH-CO workshop)

Dialogues with potential ODA donors Issue papers (during Presidential visits;

program reviews, etc.)

An issue submitted during a Presidential Visit (31May02)

“The northern CAR provinces are not physically integrated with the rest of the region”

…The inaccessibility and poor road conditions in these areas has also contributed to the northern population’s dissatisfaction with their inclusion in CAR --- this was manifested in a Bill filed by their Congressional Representatives for their separation from CAR and the formation of AKIA Region (Apayao, Kalinga and Ifugao).

Recommendation: Presidential instruction for DPWH to conduct a feasibility study and detailed engineering study for the gaps in the CRIP trunkline: Bontoc-Lubuagan and Tuao-Conner-Kabugao-Calanasan-Claveria.

advancing CRIP…

Advocacy… Assistance to ODA missions and

consultants Alternative fund sourcing (e.g. Bontoc-

Lubuagan-Tabuk “Farm-to-Market” Road)

Support from other sectors (Phil. Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Lectures/Orientations Radio Programs, Press releases, etc.

advancing CRIP…

Pledging Sessions: Baguio-Aritao (Malacanang, 1995) Bontoc-Lubuagan-Tabuk (DPWH-CO, 2005)

Project Facilitation/Problem Solving Flagship Committee (Marcos Highway) Halsema Project Support Task Force Task Force on Overloading Infrastucture Monitoring and Advisory Group

(Baguio-Aritao)

Pledging Session for the Improvement of the Bontoc-Lubuagan-Tabuk Road (17March05)

Pledging Session for the Improvement of the Bontoc-Lubuagan-Tabuk Road (17March05)

Infrastructure Committee Meeting and Visit (Baguio-Aritao Road, 21 April 2005)

Infrastructure Committee Meeting and Visit (Baguio-Aritao Road, 21 April 2005)

advancing CRIP…

Technical Work i.e. “Completed Staff Work” Project Proposals (e.g. Baguio-NV Rd

Improvement, 1993; Bontoc-Tabuk-Lubuagan, 2005)

CRIP Survey (May 2002) Prioritization of CRIP sections using

Geographic Information System (Aug 2004)

A project proposal for a pledging session & “the Pre-Feasibility Study that started it all”

Using Geographic Information System … (use of buffering to determine various levels of road impact on agriculture)

advancing CRIP…

…Technical Work (cont’n) CRIP presentation materials Updating of road data (straight-line

diagrams, traffic data, maps, socio-economic data, etc.)

Updating of GIS database Preparation/assistance in preparation

of feasibility studies Project monitoring and evaluation

advancing CRIP…

Preserving our gains Maintenance of completed Cordillera

roads Protection of completed roads

(Environmental Management Prog.) Others…

“Keeping eyes open for opportunities” “Keeping ears and minds open for new

suggestions/ideas”

Thank you!

“ Through our work in CRIP … we shall have earned our salaries for life … ”

… JBN