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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) building is seen in this photo taken on August 25, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17832166247591783216622662.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) building is seen in this photo taken on August 25, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>ABRA DE ILOG, Occidental Mindoro — Vice Mayor Aika Almajo and residents of two remote barangays in Abra de Ilog are appealing to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon to finally address their long-standing road problem, saying the lack of a passable road continues to make everyday life difficult and dangerous.Almajo said she has written to Dizon, urging the DPWH to resume and complete the unfinished road leading to Barangays Wawa and Sta. Maria, where residents continue to endure poor and dangerous road conditions. The 15-kilometer road connecting the villages to Barangay Mananao in the neighboring town of Paluan remains rocky, unpaved, and turns into thick mud whenever it rains, making travel nearly impossible.During fair weather, residents travel by boat across the sea. But when the southwest monsoon or typhoons bring rough seas, they have no choice but to walk for three to four hours just to reach their communities.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/25/dpwh-says-department-order-does-not-roll-back-infrastructure-reform-recommendations-1212">DPWH says department order does not roll back infrastructure reform recommendations</a></div>Residents also face serious difficulties whenever rivers overflow, preventing them from crossing — an especially critical problem during emergencies when patients need to be rushed to hospitals.“When someone dies, we have to tie the body to bamboo poles and carry it across the river before it can be brought for burial,” Almajo said.According to the vice mayor, only the road section from Sitio Apias to Sitio Agbalala in Barangay Wawa was concreted under the PAMANA (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) Program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), which was completed in 2021.The remaining sections of the road that were supposed to link Abra de Ilog to the town of Paluan have remained unfinished and abandoned. Residents of Barangays Wawa and Sta. Maria are now hoping Secretary Dizon will give the same urgent attention to their road project as he did to the fast-tracked Abra de Ilog–Puerto Galera Road, saying a completed road would finally provide them safe and reliable access to essential services and improve their quality of life.

Vice Mayor Aika Almajo and residents of two remote barangays in Abra de Ilog are appealing to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to finally address their long-standing road problem, saying the lack of a passable road continues to make everyday life difficult and dangerous.

Vice Mayor Aika Almajo and residents of two remote barangays in Abra de Ilog are appealing to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to finally address their long-standing road problem, saying the lack of a passable road continues to make everyday life difficult and dangerous.

DPWH urged to complete unfinished Abra de Ilog-Paluan Road in Occidental Mindoro

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DPWH urged to complete unfinished Abra de Ilog-Paluan Road in Occidental Mindoro

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 05, 2026 11:11 AM PHT

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DPWH

Road Project

Abra De Ilog

Occidental Mindoro

Vince Dizon

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