COTABATO CITY – A total of P77 million worth of infrastructure projects funded by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the town of Mamasapano in Maguindanao are nearing completion and will be inaugurated as early as next month, an official from the region’s Department of Public Works and Highways announced on Wednesday.

James Mlok, head engineer of Maguindanao’s 2nd District Engineering Office, said the ongoing projects include the 120-meter steel bridge and 880-meter access road worth P17.5 million, nine school buildings with a combined worth of P44.397 million, water sanitation structures, a farm-to-market road and a mosque.

The steel bridge is set to replace the run-down, wooden footbridge found at the site of the infamous January 25clash in Barangay Tukanalipao. Mlok said the structure dubbed as the “bridge of peace” will be completed by next month.

He said the bridge and the road project will be fully operational by the end of June. The projects also include the P3.5 million renovation of the Hadji Salik National High School, the secondary school located in Barangay Tukanalipao.

The infrastructure projects were started in March this year with ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, the region’s Public Works Secretary Emil Sadain, and officials from the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division leading the groundbreaking ceremonies.

Gov. Hataman said the military has shown that it is supportive of the Mindanao peace process through active involvement in the implementation of the projects.

The Army’s engineering battalion is undertaking the construction of a P1 million worth mosque in the area.

Mlok said most of the infrastructures will be finished on schedule. He appealed to local barangay officials to help facilitate the successful implementation of the projects. (Bureau of Public Information)

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