The Naga City government is releasing the initial amount of P3.81-million to tenants whose houses will be displaced when the proposed 4.5-kilometer Almeda by-pass highway starts construction March this year.

The amount will be used to construct new homes for the affected tenants.

While it was agreed that the same affected tenants will also be given new lots to be donated by the Almeda family at sizes equivalent to that which they orginally occupied, Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo had succeeded to ask the Almedas to appropriate bigger lot sizes by as much as 10 to 30 square meters per tenant, Nathan A. Sergio, secretary to the mayor and project coordinator said.

Sergio added that another P5.8 million will be released for affected agricultural land owners in due time upon completion of the necessary documents.

The highway starts at the property of businessman Robert Obiedo along the Naga City Diversion Road (Roxas Avenue) and ends up at the Maharlika highway section fronting the Jardin Real subdivision near the Concepcion Grande-Del Rosario boundary.

The whole length will pass through cogonal fields sparsed with some farmlands on the southern side of Roxas Avenue, towards the back of the St. Jude Parish church and some residential houses inside Phase 1 of Villa Grande Homes leading to the Maharlika highway.

When completed, the new road artery will provide alternate route for Legazpi-Manila motorists without having to pass through the traffic-heavy Concepcion Grande-Concepcion Pequeña section of the Maharlika highway.

The proposed highway which has been described as a private initiative in collaboration with the city government is being undertaken by the family of Dominador Almeda.

The Almedas will construct the by-pass highway without cost to the government.

The Almedas will also donate some more lots within the vicinity of the proposed highway for future use by the city government.

The city government’s counterpart is to provide shelter and financial assistance to the affected tenants and other right-of-way fees and requirements.

Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo hopes to have the project completed in time for the year's Peñafrancia fiesta.

top