An impact study on the Buenavista wharf road project in Guimaras

Abstract

In developing countries like the Philippines, it is inevitable to speak of roads when one speaks of development. An improved road is one indicator of improved economy of the populace. Roads serve a number of people in many ways. For instance, from the medical point of view, roads would enable more sick people to avail of better and immediate health facilities and attention. To laborers, it could provide them additional sources of income through employment, while for engineers, it could be a showcase of their ingenuity or inventive ability. To the farmers and all those involved in food production, roads are vital assets of production. Roads could facilitate transportation of inputs and produce, and could make extension services more accessible for the farmers. Marketing of their produce could be improved, since they could already bring them to marketing outlets where they could get fair price, rather than wait for middlemen in the field or in their own barangay to buy their produce. With middlemen, they could not demand for fair price because of lack of competition.

It is expected that because of improved road, there will be increased mobility and transport savings for the residents. The road is also expected to open new areas for agricultural, residential, industrial and commercial development.

The Project

The Buenavista Wharf Road Project starts at the base of the Buenavista Wharf located in Barangay Sto. Rosario, Buenavista Sub-province of Guimaras. The construction of the road was made possible under the abled leadership of lieutenant Douglas McArthur in 1903, while on duty with the U.S. Corp of Engineers. The road was previously asphalted, but had already deteriorated and has become dusty during the dry season and sticky during the wet season. This condition of the road prompted the Provincial Government of Iloilo and the Municipal Government of Buenavista to launch jointly a project for the improvement of the Wharf Road.

The improvement of the road was initiated by the Provincial Government with an appropriation of ₱70,000 for the cementing of 320 meters of road which was to be 8 meters wide and one foot thick. However, for some reasons or another, the amount did not suffice to complete the desired length of the road, so the Provincial Government of Iloilo appropriated an additional amount of ₱50,000, and the Municipal Government of Buenavista gave a counterpart of another ₱50,000. Due to the increase in funding, another 50 meters was added to the completed improved road.

The Wharf Road Project has for its objective the cementing of existing deteriorated asphalt Buenavista Wharf Road in order to increase mobility, reduce transportation cost, increase savings, open new area for agricultural, residential, industrial and commercial development, increase school participation, improve extension services, increase employment opportunities and consequently increase the income of the residents of the area. This means that with the completion and improvement of the Wharf Road, social and economic upliftment of the people of the area will be achieved.

Whether the objective and the expected effects and impact of the project are being attained or not is the subject of this investigation and an earlier baseline study.