Search on for Cebu's "best" Highway

CEBU, Philippines -All are set for the search for the e-Gwen Best Highway in the Province of Cebu in partnership with the Capitol, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

RAFI has partnered with the Province of Cebu in the implementation of the expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (e-Gwen) Our Cebu since 2008.

 “We have now the specific criteria, specific guidelines, the same team that will be evaluating plus the representative from DPWH regional office,” said RAFI executive director for integrated development, Rowena Alinsonorin.

The first run of evaluation shall start on August 23 and will run for three months. The awarding will be in December by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia although the prizes have yet to be announced.

Alinsonorin said the DPWH’s cooperation in the highway’s maintenance, cleanliness and road safety prompted Garcia to initiate the search.

The Capitol has been providing grass cutters and vehicles to fast track the beautification of highways.

The criteria of the e-Gwen Best Highway include cleanliness, beautification, trees planted and safety of national roads, main roads and thoroughfares.

Cleanliness means abandoned lots or idle spaces are well-maintained and are free from solid wastes, junk materials and the like. It also means that there are no structures on shoulders in adherence to the provision of the Building Code, and that roads are not used as post-harvest pavements. Also to be included in the evaluation is the absence of dead plants, laundry on waysides and any promotional materials like tarpaulins and posters on trees.

Beautification means vegetation after three meters from the main road consisting of flowering shrubs planted directly on the soil and not on pots, uniformity of public and private establishments in terms of patterns and motifs and enforcement of national law prohibiting the setting up of structures within salvage zones of coastal areas.

Planted trees are of varieties with root systems which grow downward rather than sideward like molave (tugas), kamagong (mabolo), lipote (maigang), alim, lanutan and bangkal.

Safety, according to the guidelines, means properly trimmed trees so as not to affect power lines; and allowing space for vehicles to pull over during emergency; the presence of street lighting infrastructure and painting of pedestrian lanes, curbs and gutters. (FREEMAN)