Foreign-assisted road projects to be implemented soon in Mindanao – DPWH

Some foreign institution-funded infrastructure projects in Mindanao will be implemented soon, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

More official development assistance (ODA)-funded infrastructure projects, according to DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, “will commence soon as they look forward to have Secretary Mark Villar see these project progresses on the ground much quicker.”

Construction of three core road projects in Western Mindanao, Sadain said, will be launched under the P25.257billion Asian Development Bank (ADB)funded program that aims to improve growth corridors in Mindanao.

These core road projects were identified as the 17-kilometer TampilisanSandayong Road in Zamboanga Del Norte costing R871 million; 24-kilometer Alicia-Malangas Road costing R1.27 billion in Zamboanga Sibugay Province; and 38.70-kilometer Lutiman-GuicamOlutanga Road costing P969 million also located in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The proposed 3.7-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge Project is also expected to start construction soon. It will connect Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao Del Norte in Northern Mindanao.

The R7.35-billion Panguil Bay Bridge project will be financed under loan agreement between the Philippines and Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund. It aims to cut the 1.5 to 2.5 hours travel from Ozamis/ Tangub to Mucas/Tubod to only seven minutes.

Also, the Marawi Transcentral Road Network will be constructed starting December this year as part of rebuilding Marawi City. It is funded under a R950-million Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan.

The Marawi Transcentral Road Network covers the 9.41-kilometer BacongIligan-Marawi Road; 3.54-kilometer Bacong-Poona-Marantao-Marawi Road; 580-meter GMA Terminal Access; 1.79-kilometer Marawi-Cadre-New Capitol;1.54-kilometer Marcos Boulevard; 840-meter Idarus Road Section; 3.31-kilometer MSU - GMA Road; and 800-meter Lumidong - Amai Pakpak Avenue.

Construction of a riverbank protection, dike, floodwall and bridge improvement will also be implemented in Cagayan De Oro to mitigate flood risk in Cagayan De Oro River Basin particularly at the downstream portion of the River about 12 kilometers from its mouth in Macajalar Bay going upstream to the Pelaez Bridge, Project Director Patrick Gatan said.