DPWH supports BARMM with projects in 2020

FILE: Department of Public Works and Highways in Manila, Philippines (Photo By Edgar Dann Alcantara, Sheena Thea Alcantara, Sheera Thea Alcantara (Wikipedia Takes Manila participant) – Uploaded from Wikipedia Takes Manila, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — Major infrastructure projects are included in the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Expenditure Program of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), an official said on Saturday.

Emil Sadain, DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations and Technical Services, who was also designated by DPWH Secretary Mark Villar as the Focal Person for BARMM Infra Projects, said the undertakings worth PHP5.22 billion are expected to harness the economic potentials and comparative advantages of the region.

“Major national infrastructure projects in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region amounting PHP5.22 Billion are already lined up in the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 DPWH National Expenditure Program,” he said in a statement.

Sadain noted that the priorities include the rehabilitation of damaged paved national highway and road widening at Basilan Circumferential Road in Basilan; reconstruction and upgrading of Jolo-Indanan-Parang-Silangkan Road, Jolo-Taglibi-Tiptipon Road, Jolo Port-Bud Daho-Romandier Road in Sulu; replacement of weak bridges along Jolo-Taglibi-Tiptipon Road, Sulu; construction of missing road links of Banaran-Tonggusong Road, Marang Marang-Bakung Road, Tonggusong Road – Tubig Indangan Road in Tawi-Tawi; construction of flood mitigation structure at Agus/Buayan River in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

The rehabilitation along Cotabato-Malabang-Lanao del Norte Road, Masiu-Ganassi Road and Marawi-Malabang Road in Lanao del Sur; and concreting of Sultan Mastusa and Parang Section of Cotabato – Lanao Road, and widening of Simuay-Landasan-Parang Road, Lamsan – Simuay Junction Road in Cotabato City would also be in the pipeline.

The DPWH official noted that the identification and subsequent finalization of the priority lists of projects for FY 2020 to ensure that strategic regional needs are considered in national plans and that the regional plans are aligned with national priorities, was in coordination with BARMM – Ministry of Public Works (MPW).

“In addition for funds to be provided by the national government as assistance to the region for the construction and maintenance of national roads and bridges, bridges, water supply and services under DPWH supervision, BARMM-MPW proposed to undertake in FY 2020 PHP12.14 billion worth of local infrastructure to be sourced from annual block grant which is the share of Bangsamoro government in the national internal revenue tax collections of Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs,” Sadain said.

“(An) Additional PHP5 billion worth of projects will be provided by the national government as Special Development Fund to the Bangsamoro government for the rebuilding, rehabilitation, and development of its conflict-affected communities,” he added.

Sadain said the boost in investments for infrastructure at BARMM is seen to finally make the change for the living condition of the Bangsamoro people happen.

“The Bangsamoro government through the MPW need to work closely with DPWH Regional Offices 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao) and 12 (Soccsksargen) and should raise the bar in the delivery of effective and efficient services by racing against lost time because they are at the forefront towards achieving the intra- and interregional trade between and among the Mindanao regions,” he added.

A memorandum of agreement between DPWH and MPW BARRM is being finalized to harmonize and synchronize plans and programs.

Other significant investments, which aim to spark growth in the BAR by the DPWH are the reconstruction and development plan for a Greater Marawi which received PHP950 million grant for the construction of 18.97 kilometers Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1 and 2 from the government of Japan.

The project, funded through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is seen to pave the way for improved mobility of people and for better access to goods and services.

The funding for the 23 kilometers Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 3 and 19.8 kilometers Marawi City Ring Road are also included in the PHP3.577 Billion JICA loan.

“We expect to strengthen connectivity between areas in the BAR and other regions of Mindanao by developing and upgrading about 176.6 kilometers of primary and its access roads under the PHP14 billion Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao or RNDP-CAAM funded by a PHP10.684 billion loan agreement with JICA and PHP3.617 billion counterpart fund by government of the Philippines,” Sadain said.