The Provincial Government of South Cotabato, through the Convergence Approach for Change Unification Program (CATCH-UP), has launched an innovative initiative to ease road accessibility challenges in disadvantaged and hard-to-reach communities.
According to Cris Pingkunn Fuentes, Project Development Officer II, the concept for this project was first proposed by Mr. Romel T. Evangelio, a driver of the CATCH-UP Team who has extensive on-ground experience navigating remote areas.
“This project is a simple yet impactful solution that responds to the pressing needs of communities with limited access to government services due to poor road conditions,” Fuentes said.
Evangelio, who was also recently recognized as a regional awardee of the Civil Service Commission’s Dangal ng Bayan Integrity and Loyalty Awards, shared the idea based on his firsthand encounters with the challenges faced by residents in geographically isolated communities.
“Unlike conventional road construction, the tire path pavement is a modular structure made up of 0.8 by 0.6-meter units that resemble large tiles,” Fuentes shared.
These can be laid directly on pathways to provide safer passage for vehicles and pedestrians. The system is movable, detachable, repairable, and highly adaptable to different terrains, making it suitable for areas identified for future road opening and expansion projects.
Fuentes said the tire Path Pavement Project is expected to complement existing infrastructure programs by providing immediate relief to disadvantaged areas, ensuring that essential services—such as health, education, and livelihood support—reach residents without delay.
“The Tire Path Pavement Project is a cost-efficient and adaptive solution designed to address the difficulty of accessing sitios and barangays with underdeveloped road networks,” Fuentes added.
Through this initiative, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato reinforces its commitment to inclusive governance by delivering innovative and practical solutions that directly address the needs of its people.
