SoCot gets P370-M under ‘Build, Build Build’ program

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will implement around P370 million worth of priority road projects this year in parts of South Cotabato province.

Jennifer Bretana, coordinator of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, said Monday these comprised 14 projects that were approved under the national government’s “Build, Build, Build” initiative.

She said at least 10 projects were approved under the Tourism Road Infrastructure Project (TRIP) and four under the Roads Leveraging Linkages of Industry and Trade (ROLL IT) program.

TRIP is a joint project of the DPWH and the Department of Tourism that is aimed to improve access to various local tourism destinations.

ROLL IT, which is also a joint undertaking of the Department of Trade and Industry and the DPWH, focuses on the opening and improvement of road networks to boost economic and trade activities.

Bretana said the 10 road projects under the TRIP have a total funding of P200 million while the ROLL IT projects cost around P170 million.

The approved TRIP projects are: the access road and bridge leading to the weaving center, Trappistine Monastery, paragliding site and view deck for wild pig watching area in Barangay Landan, Polomolok; access road leading to Mt. Matutum jump-off point in Sitio Glandang, Barangay Kablon, Tupi; junction Lang Dulay road leading to Tnalak weaving sites in Barangays Lamdalag, Klubi and Lamcade in Lake Sebu; junction Ben Sidon-Bacdulong road leading to the Lake Sebu circumferential road in Barangay Bacdulong, Lake Sebu; Poblacion-Barangay Laconon road leading to Bacngeb River Cave in Laconon, Tboli;

Poblacion-Barangay Kematu road leading to Hidak Falls, Panamin Village and Kematu mining area in Kematu, Tboli; junction Surallah-Lake Sebu road leading to the NV Vogt solar power plant in Barangay Centrala, Surallah; PoblacionBarangay Salacafe road leading to the jump-off point to Lake Holon and Mt. Melibingoy in Salacafe, Tboli; PoblacionBarangay Lamhaku road leading to El Kini Hot Springs in Lamhaku, Tboli; and the road and bridge from Poblacion to Traan Kini Springs in Barangay Lamdalag, Lake Sebu.

The four ROLL IT projects are: the Poblacion–San IsidroLiberty-Pulabato-Palo road in Tampakan town; junction crossing Palakan-LamcaliafKalsangi road in Polomolok; Lote LinanPoblacion road in Tupi; and, junction national highway-Sto. Nino steel bridge-Kibang road in Sto. Nino.

Bretana said the 14 road projects were earlier identified by the provincial government as among its top priorities under its infrastructure program.

“These are expected to bring tremendous impact to our tourism sector as well as local economy,” she added. (PNA)