PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro —The completion this year of the P1.93-billion Mindoro Island Circumferential Road, the second and final stage of the interconnection of the two Mindoro provinces, will boost the island’s economic and tourism activities, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways said.
The coastal road, which starts at the northern tip of Puerto Galera, this province, and Abra de Ilog, in Occidental Mindoro, has a length of 20.33 kilometers that will pass through Mt. Talipanan and several rivers situated on the island’s mountain borders.
Barangay chairman Rockey D. Ilagan, of Sabang, Puerto Galera, said the “opening of the mountain borders is beneficial to both provinces of Mindoro in terms of the development of the tourism industry and the handling of goods and services.”
After staying for several days in Puerto Galera, foreign tourists proceed to Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, to hibernate in Apo Reef. “In going there, they take the dangerous boat ride to Abra de Ilog and again take a land trip to Sablayan,” explained Ilagan.
He also explained that the completion of the circumferential road has been “much-awaited since Puerto Galera will benefit from it since two seaports, the Balatero and Muelle ports, will cater to rolling cargos, loaded with agricultural products, coming from Occidental Mindoro.”
The first circumferential road, the 37-kilometer Bulalacao-Magsaysay mountain road connecting the southern part of the two Mindoro provinces had been completed two years ago and now being used by traders and islanders in the area.
