1. 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)

2. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

3. 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

4. The transport situation before CAR was created (1987)

5. 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.

6. The VISION is Regional Integration … and the PROJECT :
CRIP – Cordillera Roads Improvement Project

7. 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

8. The CRIP
Cordillera Roads Improvement Project

9. 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

10. 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)

11. The World Famous Banawe Rice Terraces

12. 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

13. 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

14. Its Components 1. The Cordillera Trunkline Road
Baguio-Bontoc-Tabuk-Kabugao

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. The CRIP Components :
the trunkline
the laterals
other strategic roads

21. 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

22. 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

23. Status of CRIP Road Sections (Based on Length)
Pipeline 4%
Proposed
76%
Ongoing
12%
Completed 8%
1, kms
140.8 kms
201.7 kms
67.1 kms
TOTAL LENGTH
= km

24. 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

25. Cost of Highway Construction in CAR (P Million/km)
Road
Section
Year
Cost
(PhP)
Length
(km)
Cost/ km
Naguilian Rd
531 M
46.71
11.4 M
Marcos HW
1.3 B
47.1
27.2 M
Halsema HW
1.0 B 80
12.5 M
Baguio-Aritao Rd
2.2 B
103.8
21.2 M
AVERAGE
18.1 M

26. 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

27. High-Cost Items in Mountain Highway Construction :
Slope Protection
Drainage
Excavation
Blasting
Special Structures

28. The Marcos Highway Viaduct (519m) and Rockshed (327m)

29. 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

30. advancing CRIP… Advocacy:
Regional Development Council (RDC) Resolutions/ Endorsements
Budget proposals
Investment Programs
RDC Dialogues with DPWH Central Office (DPWH-CO)

31. RDC-DPWH-CO Dialogue (11Nov03)

32. 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.)

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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)

36. Pledging Session for the Improvement of the Bontoc-Lubuagan-Tabuk Road (17March05)

37. Pledging Session for the Improvement of the Bontoc-Lubuagan-Tabuk Road (17March05)

38. Infrastructure Committee Meeting and Visit (Baguio-Aritao Road, 21 April 2005)

39. Infrastructure Committee Meeting and Visit (Baguio-Aritao Road, 21 April 2005)

40. 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)

41. A project proposal for a pledging session & “the Pre-Feasibility Study that started it all”

42. Using Geographic Information System … (use of buffering to determine various levels of road impact on agriculture)

43. 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

44. 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”

45. Thank you!
“ Through our work in CRIP … we shall have earned our salaries for life … ”
… JBN