A congressional bill seeking to convert the Corella-Balilihan Provincial Road into a national road has languished in Congress for years, stalled by an unresolved right-of-way dispute in Corella that continues to block endorsement from the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The Provincial Engineer’s Office confirmed that while the Balilihan section has already secured a complete right of way, the Corella local government unit has yet to acquire land from private owners along the proposed corridor near the town church — the designated route of the would-be national road.
The Provincial Engineer’s Office said the right-of-way impasse in Corella remains the primary obstacle, and that no streetlights have been installed along the road pending resolution of the nationalization plan and the corresponding road-widening design.
DPWH has said it cannot endorse or approve the nationalization until both the provincial government and Corella LGU comply with right-of-way requirements.
Former Bohol 1st District Rep. Edgar Chatto previously directed then-Provincial Engineer Camilo Gasatan to submit additional justifications to DPWH in a bid to advance the measure, citing the road’s high traffic volume, its connectivity to all three congressional districts of Bohol, and the presence of institutions of national significance along its route.
Among the factors cited: the road links the Cortes-Balilihan-Catigbian-Macaas Road with the Tagbilaran-Corella-Sikatuna-Loboc Road, with traffic also flowing through Balilihan-Batuan via Hanopol National Road — making it heavier in traffic than the three existing national roads in the area.
Chatto also pointed to the Bohol Island State University Balilihan Campus, which straddles both sides of the highway with a combined 8-hectare footprint and over 2,500 students, as evidence that the corridor serves more than local traffic.
He noted a planned sports complex within the campus — the Sen. Ed Angara Sports Complex — is being built to national and international standards capable of hosting Palarong Pambansa competitions.
Road safety was also raised as a concern, with police records from both Corella and Balilihan documenting frequent accidents attributed to the road’s narrow width and heavy traffic load.
Observers noted that most victims are residents from towns outside the two municipalities.
Despite the submissions, the measure has not moved forward.
Officials advised residents to direct further inquiries to the Provincial Engineer’s Office and DPWH, which are coordinating on next steps with provincial and 1st District leadership.