COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has passed the Muslim Mindanao Autonomy (MMA) Act No. 325, or the Regional Public Works Act of 2016 on Thursday, December 17.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman and Datu Roonie Sinsuat, Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) speaker, signed the law with regional legislators witnessing the event. Act No. 325 authorizes the appropriation of a P10.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2016 for the region’s Public Works and Highways department (DPWH-ARMM).
It is stated in the Act that consistent with the 2016 National Expenditure Program, the public works budget shall be used in the construction, development, upgrading, and operation or maintenance of roads, highways, bridges, water supplies, flood controls, ports, airports and other infrastructure projects excluding
buildings.
The appropriation will be effective even beyond Fiscal Year 2016, or until fully released, obligated and disbursed for the purpose.
Governor Hataman said the DPWH-ARMM regional office will implement the projects, or these may be decentralized to district engineering offices.
Status of project implementation, based on the approved program of work, project specifications, and time frame of completion will be validated by the Regional Project Monitoring Committee that would include RLA members or representatives.
It also allows the release of mobilization fund of at least 15% for a project implemented by contract, and also with a memorandum of agreement, and 50% for a project implemented by administration.
Engr. Don Mustapha Loong, DPWH-ARMM Secretary, said the projects are designed for the region’s constituents to improve their lives. “The DPWH-ARMM infrastructure fund for next year is in support of peace and development of the Hataman administration,” he added.
Sec. Loong said the bigger budgetary allocation allows DPWH-ARMM to construct new roads and other infrastructure facilities. He also said the massive infrastructure program for the region is expected to generate a significant number of jobs. (Bureau of Public Information)
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