España boulevard rehab work seen to be finished in time for school opening

Rehabilitation of España Boulevard, a thoroughfare located at the Philippines’ University Belt, is expected to be completed next week in time for the first day of classes. This was disclosed by an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), adding that the agency is "up to the challenge to work overtime on the road." The public works department hopes to finish it by next week, DPWH National Capital Region (NCR) director Edilberto Tayao said. The P38.952-million project intends to undertake rehabilitation work on the highway, widening lanes on both sides of the road. Rehabilitation will also involve elevating the boulevard by half a meter to prevent heavy flooding in the area during the rainy season. Meanwhile, the boulevard could have been open even before June were it not for the lack of funds allotted to the project, said DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo, who is in charge of Luzon operations. Rehabilitation could have been started "much earlier and finish[ed] on time if not only for the lack of funds," he said. On June 15, the first day of school, heavy traffic is expected to build up on all major routes in Metro Manila, especially along major routes within the University Belt. Roads along West Avenue in Quezon City, Legarda and C.M. Recto in Manila, and the C-5 road were inspected, ensuring that pedestrian crossings near schools were repainted, drainage systems declogged, and potholes fixed for the safety of students and motorists. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV