The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the first district of Samar province has begun the implementation of the PHP350-million bypass road. The 4.67-km. road project, designed to decongest traffic in the city’s commercial district, covers bank and slope protection works and other structures, said DPWH project engineer Ramon Calagos. “The PHP350 million budget is only for phase 1 of the project. It does not include the concreting and the construction of the bridge located in Aguit-itan village,” Calagos told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday. Work on the entire diversion road, which began early last month, will be completed in 2020, he said. The road will traverse the seashores of seven coastal villages in the city, but he assured that mangrove plantations will not be affected. “The increasing volume of vehicles coming in and out of the city congests the road, so we need to do something to help control it,” Calagos added. “This project, just like the Calbayog Diversi