Vizcaya-Benguet road completed this year

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Novo Vizcayanos can now look forward to reaching the country’s summer capital in a few hours as the shortest route linking this landlocked province to the mountain city is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The P2.1-billion Nueva Vizcaya-Benguet road, a joint highway project of the national government and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will be finished by September or at the latest, before the year ends.

When completed, travel time from this province to Baguio City will be shortened by three hours.

The new route will traverse the mountain highway from Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya to Baguio City via the vegetable-rich upland town of Kayapa and the majestic Ambuklao Dam in Bokod, Benguet.

Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma said that with its completion, economic and trade relations between the two provinces — Nueva Vizcaya and Benguet — would improve further. 

Nueva Vizcaya is a known producer of high-grade quality rice known as ‘Vizcaya Rice’ while Benguet is rich in export-quality vegetables such as the popular Baguio beans, cabbage, green pepper and lettuce. 

The old Nueva Vizcaya-Benguet route suffers intermittent closures due to landslides, especially during the rainy season, making it dangerous for commuters to traverse. Its anticipated completion would transform it into an all-weather road.