President Gloria Arroyo has given the green light to the Department of Public Works and Highways to begin rehabilitation of the Bokod-Kabayan secondary national highway, up to the junction leading to Mt. Pulag.

Gov. Nestor Fong-wan said Arroyo made the order to DPWH Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane during her trip to Bokod the other week where she inaugurated the Ambuclao by-pass road.

Fongwan said that following the order, Ebdane informed him that the DPWH will commence work on the stretch by determining the scope of work first. “From there, it is a matter of scheduling before ground work begins,” he said.

The rehabilitation of the highway, a clamor by a succession of provincial administrations, is seen to boost the standing of Kabayan as a tourist destination.

The highway is the town’s main link to the outside world. The town is also host to the world-famous mummies found in several mountain stone caves.

“In addition to tourism, the town’s agricultural industry will also greatly benefit once the road is paved and improved,” Fongwan said.

The road improvement is expected to wind up at Barangay Ekip, where the junction to Mt. Pulag is located.

At the same time, Fongwan thanked local officials and the women sector of Bokod municipality for ma-king it to the inauguration of the Ambuclao by-pass road on short notice.

The Bokod entourage that serenaded the President included mayor Mauricio Macay, vice mayor Thomas Wales, the teachers of the Tublay School of Home Industries (Bokod annex), Ambuclao women club members, as well as concerned citizens of Ambuclao itself.

“They made the President’s trip memorable with their songs and presence,” he said.

Fongwan revealed that had it not been for the inauguration, the by-pass road would have remained close to vehicular travel after local residents barred entry on both ends of the road.

“With its inauguration, it is now open to vehicular use,” he said.

The 1.65-kilometer long by-pass road skirts the Ambuclao Dam by passing across a ridge that overlooks the dam and the village of Ambuclao itself.