SP Reiterates Requests for Street Lights  at the Aklan Circumferential Road

By: Nicolas Evan G. Fuentes

The 19th Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan, during its 16th Regular Session on October 25, 2022, passed SP Resolution No. 2022-202 reiterating the Province of Aklan’s request to the Department of Public Works and Highways for the installation of street lights at the Aklan Circumferential Road especially along the entire stretch of the Kalibo-Lezo Bridge III.

The Resolution sponsored by Hon. Plaridel M. Solidum, Hon. Mark Ace L. Bautista, Hon. Bayani M. Cordova and Hon. Jupiter Aelred G. Gallene.

Entitled: “A Resolution Reiterating The Urgent Request Of The Province Of Aklan To The Department Of Public Works And Highways (DPWH) For The Installation Of Street Lights At The Aklan Circumferential Road Especially Along The Entire Stretch Of The Kalibo-Lezo Bridge III And Its Major Intersections For The Safety Of The General Public As Embodied In Aklan SP Resolution No. 2020-405 Enacted On March 2, 2022 Herein Appended” was immediately approved by all SP members present after it was presented on the floor by SP Member Solidum, Chairman of the SP Committee on Public Works, Housing, Land Use and Urban Relocation.

On his motion, SP Solidum emphasized the need for the installation of street lights for the safety of the general public traversing the Aklan Circumferential Road and the Kalibo-Lezo Bridge III.

“This is an urgent need for the immediate installation of street lights for the safety of the general public and to prevent lawlessness in the dark portions of the Aklan Circumferential Road,” Solidum said.

To address the perennial traffic problems in the capital town of Kalibo, the 15.81-kilometer Aklan Circumferential Road was constructed to provide an alternate route from Aklan West Road, passing the Municipality of Lezo and by-passing the Municipality of Numancia that would decongest Kalibo proper especially during the famous Ati-Atihan Festival.

A part of the Aklan Circumferential Road, the 770-lineal meter- two (2) lane Kalibo-Lezo Bridge III linking Barangay Tigayon in Kalibo and the town of Lezo across the Aklan river was formally inaugurated on January 16, 2020 and was considered one of the longest bridges not only in Aklan but in Panay Island and was designed to cut travel time from the capital town Kalibo to the municipalities west of Aklan river.

The earlier request of SP Aklan, approved by the 18th SP, was embodied in SP Resolution No. 2020-405 which was sponsored by former SP Member and now Ibajay Mayor Engr. Jose Miguel M. Miraflores and incumbent SP Member Nemesio P. Neron.

The request was first conceptualized during a legislative inquiry conducted by the 18th SP in which a concern has been raised that the Kalibo-Lezo Bridge III, and other major intersections along the stretch of the Aklan Circumferential Road, are potential accident-prone areas due to lack of street lighting.