CABUSAO, Camarines Sur -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on her visit to the province last week lowered the ceremonial time capsule here last Feb. 13 signaling the start of the P61-million Sipocot-Cabusao road improvement project.

        After lowering the capsule containing the road project master plan with several coins as good luck, the President also poured coconut oil on the capsule while being assisted by Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Dato Arroyo, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., Cabusao Mayor Norberto Genova, Pandan Barangay Chair Purisima Ubaldo and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol Regional Director Orlando Roces.

        “This is better instead of the traditional pouring of champagne wine,” the President said referring to the coconut oil poured on the time capsule.

        DPWH Regional Director Roces assured the road project would be completed within the target period of construction.

        The Sipocot-Cabusao road project has a total length of 16.927 kilometers with an existing concrete road of 11.257 kms; existing asphalt road of 1.765 kms. and gravel road of 3.905 kms.

        Implemented by the DPWH and the Camarines Sur Ist District Engineering Office, the road project when finished will serve as an alternate route in case of traffic impairment along the Maharlika Highway.

        While in this town, President Arroyo also inaugurated the two newly-built school buildings and led the groundbreaking for the construction of another school building intended for grade school pupils of the Castillo Elementary School.

        The first of the two-classroom school buildings built by the Department of Education (DepEd) was funded through the Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Efforts (CARE) Fund with P878,000.

        The second, a one-storey, two-classroom school building adjacent to the two-classroom UNICEF school building, was funded under Phase 1 of the UNICEF Netherlands School Building program. It was built at the cost of P1.19 million.

        President Arroyo also lowered a capsule containing coins and the school building plan for the construction of another two-storey, four-classroom school building that would replace a dilapidated school house up for demolition.

        With a P4 million budget, the proposed two-storey school building is being funded by the Department of Education and will start its construction in March 2008.

        It is a joint project of Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. and Cabusao Mayor Norberto Genova. PIA V