Batan-New Washington bridge proposed

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The town of Batan, Aklan is proposing for the construction of a bridge linking its coastal barangays to the town of New Washington.

PHOTO AKLAN FORUM JOURNAL

The 1.5-kilometer bridge will allow the motorists to bypass the towns of Banga and Balete in going to the town of Altavas, Aklan and nearby provinces.

At present, motorists have to cross the Batan Bay from Dumaguit in New Washington to Batan port with a ferry boat. From 50-kilometer land travel from Kalibo to Altavas, motorists will take the 26-kms Kalibo-New Washington-Batan road with the interlinking bridge.

Batan Bay which is a natural harbor for small vessels during severe weather conditions straddles the coastal barangays of Batan and New Washington. 

The bridge was conceptualized by Sangguniang Bayan of Batan through Resolution No. 177 series of 2018 requesting Public Works and Highways secretary Mark Villar to allocate funds for the construction of interlinking bridge from Batan town proper to  Barangay Dumaguit in New Washington.

The new connecting bridge will reduce the travel time in going to the provinces of Iloilo and Capiz and the cities of Roxas and Iloilo and will also decongest traffic in Kalibo-Banga-Balete-Altavas highway.

“The bridge will further enhance the mobility, commerce and education, socio-economic lives of residents considering the town of New Washington is adjacent to Kalibo, the capital town of Aklan,” the resolution said.

It will also spur inclusive economic activity, hasten the transport of goods and continuous travel of residents even during bad weather if the Batan-New Washington bridge is realized.  

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan has referred the resolution to the committee on public works for consultation. The municipal government of New Washington also has yet to approve a resolution supporting the proposal of Batan for the interlinking bridge.