The Way We Were

Traveling or driving going to northern Catanduanes was really thrilling, challenging and fun particularly during the construction of the Catanduanes Circumferential Road Improvement Project (CCRIP) - Phase I. I used to drive at the 60 kilometers stretch many times. Maneuvering requires some intuition, guts and lots of common sense so as your vehicle would not be stuck in the mud and loose earth. Indeed, a big difference if one is used to city driving.

During my frequent trips, I used to wonder that the whole stretch could be a good venue for an off-road car rally. All the challenges were in placed, muddy and dry in some section, blind curves, uphill and downhill drives.

For the commuting public, at that time, one has to squeezed-in into overcrowded public vehicles. Average travel time then was 3-4 hours, yet I never heard anyone complained about their horrendous trip. All were anticipating for a better road.

In October 2007, the CCRIP - Phase I was completed and inaugurated.

In progress is the 120.36 km. from Viga to Codon, San Andres (CCRIP - Phase II) with an estimated budget cost of Php 2.8B.

RELATED LINKS:

• The Road Going to North - Travelling from Virac to northern towns of Viga, Panganiban and Bagamanoc is much better off now compared to 4 years ago.
• Catanduanes Skyway - Wild suggestion to initiate development of a cable car system to run from Bicol mainland up to northernmost town of Pandan.
• The Catanduanes Circumferential Road Improvement Project (CCRIP) - October 22, 2007: Inaugurated was the 79.818-kilometer road stretching from San Andres to Viga and five (5) bridges, which are components of the fourth phase of the Arterial Road Links Development Project.