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

476 Tourist Sites 845,000 Tourist Arrivals (2004) 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

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

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 CRIP Components : the trunkline the laterals other strategic roads

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 Baguio-Mt. Data -Bontoc Part Pipeline/ Proposed 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) Pipeline 4% Proposed 76% Ongoing 12% Completed 8% 1,280.58 kms 140.8 kms 201.7 kms 67.1 kms TOTAL LENGTH = 1690.22 km

The sheer MAGNITUDE of resources required to develop CRIP 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 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 Others… 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