The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is lining up infrastructure projects worth P5.22 billion to help harness the economic potentials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Major national infrastructure projects in BARMM have been lined up in DPWH’s proposed expenditure program for 2020, reported Emil K. Sadain, DPWH undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office-Operations and Technical Services, during the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Relations Body for Infrastructure Development for BARMM.
Priority projects include rehabilitation of the damaged paved national highway and road widening at Basilan Circumferential Road in Basilan; reconstruction and upgrading of Jolo-Indanan-Parang-Silangkan Road, Jolo-Taglibi-Tiptipon Road, and Jolo Port-Bud Daho-Romandier Road in Sulu; replacement of weak bridges along Jolo-Taglibi-Tiptipon Road, Sulu; construction of mission road links on Banaran-Tonggusong Road, Marang Marang-Bakung Road, and Tonggusong Road-Tubig Indangan Road in Tawi-Tawi; construction of a flood mitigation structure at Agus/Buayan River in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; rehabilitation works along Cotabato-Malabang-Lanao del Norte Road, Masiu-Ganassi Road and Marawi-Malabang Road in Lanao del Sur; and concreting of Sultan Mastusa and Parang Section of Cotabato-Lanao Road, and widening of Simuay-Landasan-Parang Road, Lamsan-Simuay Junction Road in Cotabato City.
DPWH said it had assisted BARMM-Ministry of Public Works (MPW) in identifying and finalizing the priority lists of projects for 2020 to ensure that strategic regional needs are considered in national plans and that regional plans are aligned with national priorities.
Sadain said the Bangsamoro government through the MPW needs to work closely with DPWH Regional Offices 9, 10 and 12 and to raise the bar in the delivery of effective and efficient services by making up for lost time because they are at the forefront of efforts to achieve intra- and interregional trade between and among the Mindanao regions.
A memorandum of agreement between DPWH and MPW is being finalized to harmonize and synchronize plans and programs.
DPWH said it is also committed to helping spark meaningful growth in BARMM through significant investments in projects for the region. Among these is the reconstruction and development plan for a Greater Marawi, which received a P950-million grant for the construction of the 18.97-kilometer (km) Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1 and 2. The grant was provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to pave the way for improved mobility of people and for better access to goods and services. Funding for the 23-km Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 3 and 19.8-km Marawi City Ring Road is also included in the P3.577-billion JICA loan.
The 21.87-km Transcentral Road Phase IV will be financed by the Asian Development Bank under the Reconstruction and Development Plan for a Greater Marawi, a master development plan for the inclusive economic growth of Marawi City and its peripheral areas.
Sadain said the government also expects to strengthen connectivity between areas in BARMM and other regions of Mindanao by developing and upgrading about 176.6 km of primary and access roads under the P14-billion Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao. The project is funded by a P10.684-billion loan agreement with JICA and P3.617-billion counterpart fund by the Philippine government.
