DPWH to resume suspended infra projects in Marawi

CITY-- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) soon to resume 2016 and 2017 infrastructure projects that were suspended during the Marawi siege.

In a coordination meeting with the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) member agencies, it was discussed that the suspended infrastructure projects include rehabilitation and repair of roads, construction of water systems and line canals, completion of Marawi diversion roads, construction of school buildings, and concreting of roads within the city.

The projects also include expansion and renovation of the DPWH-ARMM Lanao First District Engineering Office (DEO), one of the public offices that have been affected after the ISISinspired militants occupied the Marawi community and engaged government forced in a fatal combat that lasted for six months.

The implementation of stalled infrastructures set to be continued this year, however, all the projects situated on the Most Affected Area (MAA) were put on hold.

TFBM Field Office Manager and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Asec. Felix Castro presided the coordination meeting with DPWH and AFP at the field office at Mahogany Hills, Iligan City as infrastructure projects for the rehabilitation and recovery of Marawi continues.

With this, Castro urges DPWH to give the names of contractors, laborers and deliverers to military before the start of any project implementation for security and safekeeping purposes.

“Just submit the names para ma-counter check lang natin just in case magtatanong sila [military] para wala ng maging problema kahit checkpoint titingnan,” he said.

Several agreements have been concluded during the said meeting.

“We will send a letter, and then we will inform you kung magpo-proceed na. Yung security concerns ninyo tutukan na rin natin yan,” Castro said to DPWH during the meeting.

DPWH requested for clearance to start the infrastructure projects that are not included in MAA and work on it as soon as possible.

“Gusto lang namin malaman kung paano kami makakapag-resume,” DPWH-Lanao del Sur District 1 Engineer Luzviminda Sani stressed to AFP.