INFRA PROJECTS WILL CREATE MORE ECOZONES

Among the major projects in the South-Central Mindanao corridor are the highspeed railway system, a road network, and economic zones, among others

Ongoing infrastructure and economic projects in the South-Central Mindanao corridor is seen to create more economic zones (ecozones) in Mindanao, a Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) official said.

Raymond Peter Esperat of Minda said in an interview on Thursday October 18, 2018 during the Mindanao Energy Plan public consultations at The Royal Manadaya Hotel, Davao City that these infrastructure projects in the south-central corridor is just among of the many envisioned developments for Mindanao.

Other development corridors in Mindanao include Northern Mindanao, and Western Mindanao.

“We are also seeing that the creation of more economic zones will also help even strengthen the projects we have for Mindanao. Also with this, having more economic zones will help invite more possible investments in the region,” Esperat said.

Presently, there 34 operating Ecozones in Mindanao.

For south-central Mindanao development corridor, six projects are currently ongoing addressing developments on transportation, culture and heritage, road infrastructures, and seaports.

“For the TransMindanao HighSpeed Railway System Project, we are happy to tell that the construction will start by third quarter of next year,” Esperat said.

The railway system has a total of 18 segments with a total length of 2,277.56 kilometers (km) with a budget of P1.935 trillion.

Esperat said the phase one of the Mindanao Tourism Cultural Village Center in Davao City has already been completed. Though there’s still a need for funding and implementation for the second phase of the project.

“There are still continued roadworks in Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao Occidental as part of DPWH’s project on Mindanao Road Network Missing Link,” Esperat said.

To control floods in the plains of central Mindanao, a river basin flood control project has been constructed.

We are also seeing that the creation of more economic zones will also help even strengthen the projects we have for Mindanao. Also with this, having more economic zones will help invite more possible investments in the region.

RAYMOND PETER ESPERAT

Mindanao Development Authority