DPWH Starts PHP95-Million Lake Sebu Road Widening Project

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started the widening of the main road leading to Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato to improve access to top tourist destinations in the area.

Eddie Amir, head of South Cotabato's 1st District Engineering Office, said the PHP95-million project is one of the tourism roads approved for funding and implementation this year under the 2019 General Appropriations Act or national budget.

Amir said the initial road widening covers a total of 9.2-kilometer of Surallah-Lake Sebu-Maitum road in Barangay Colonggulo, Surallah town.

Lake Sebu, famous for its scenic mountain lakes, is a top tourist destination and is considered the summer capital of South-Central Mindanao. It hosts at least three lakes and seven waterfalls, as well as a zipline that is considered as among the highest in Southeast Asia.

Amir said the road widening will make travel to the area convenient and the tourist spots more accessible.

"It will be completed in the first quarter next year," he said, adding that the project covers the concreting of the additional lane for each side of the road, increasing it to four lanes.

He said it also includes the application of thermoplastic pavement markings, removal/installation of guardrails and culverts, and the construction of line canal and slope protection.

Amir said the agency has been coordinating with the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the implementation of more road projects that would further boost access to tourism sites and attractions in the province.

The projects are part of the DPWH-DOT convergence and the Tourism Road Infrastructure Project Prioritization Criteria, which sets the standards for the implementation of tourism roads.