PH gets $380-M loan to fund 11 infra projects in Mindanao

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted the Philippines a $380-million loan to fund 11 big ticket projects in Mindanao, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced yesterday.

Roads and bridges in Mindanao are expected to be longer by 280 kilometers with the implementation of the 11 infrastructure projects under the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project, DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar said.

The loan agreement was signed Wednesday by Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and ADB President Takehiko Nakao. The project is ADB’s first support for a regional project in the “Golden Age of Infrastructure” under the Duterte administration.

The projects which will be implemented starting 2018 until 2023 will cover the construction of eight roads in Zamboanga Peninsula (277.23 kilometers) and additional three bridges in the Province of Tawi-Tawi.

“The whole project costs P25.257 billion. With the ADB loan, we can utilize more of our budget to other key infrastructure projects of the government,” said Villar.

Three core projects -- the 23.69kilometer Alicia-Malangas Road, the 17.1-kilometer Tampilisan-Sandayong Road, and the 37.49-kilometer Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road with 440-lineal meter Guicam Bridge are for procurement on the first quarter of 2018, Villar noted.

The detailed engineering design of five other projects -- the 55.25kilometer R.T. Lim-Siocon Road, the 40-kilometer Lanao-Pagadian-Ipil-Zamboanga Road and Curuan-Sibuco Road, the 34.5-kilometer Siay-Gapol Road, and the 27.76-kilometer Gutalac-Baliguian Alternative Road, is now 80-percent completed.

Three bridges in Tawi-tawi: Malassa-Lupa Pula; Tongsinah-Paniongan; and Nalil-Sikkiat Bridges will be covered by the project.

“All these projects have the common goal and in line with the strategies of Build…. Build…. Build by accelerating infrastructure development to support Mindanao development by increasing the capacity of Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) road network and improving and widening of existing roads and bridges to upgrade and expand the Philippine road network”, Villar noted.