COTABATO CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) will implement some P397.40 million worth of infrastructure projects in the provinces of Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman and DPWH Secretary Don Mustapha Loong led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on June 24 for P200.40 million worth of infrastructure projects in Maguindanao and more than P197 million worth of road projects in Tawi-Tawi.
The projects in Tawi-Tawi include the concreting of the 17-kilometer Maraning-Marang Marang Road in Languyan, which will form part of the province’s circumferential road. It will connect the town of Languyan to Bongao, the province’s capital town.
The DPWH-ARMM’s major projects to be rolled out in the municipalities of Parang and Barira in Maguindanao include the concreting of the Padang-Padang Park access road, Sarmiento-Landasan Road, Parang-Barira Road and Matanog-Barira-Buldon Road as well as the construction of the Tagudtungan Port, Lintayin seaport, boat landing in Bongo Island, water supply system in Barira, and the rehabilitation of the Polloc Port.
Governor Hataman said the projects are part of his commitment to support the Iranun Development Program whose objective is to bring massive development to Iranun tribe areas.
Mayor Ibrahim Ibay of Parang town and also the concurrent chair of the Iranun Development Council (IDC) vowed to support the implementation of the various projects in his municipality. The IDC is a multi-sectoral development arm of all local government units in Maguindanao’s Iranun towns that include Parang, Buldon, Barira and Matanog, and the municipality of Kapatagan in Lanao del Sur.
“Developing the region’s infrastructure system will boost the economic activity in ARMM. This will also provide more efficient accessibility in tourist destinations in the region,” said Gov. Hataman.
This year, DPWH-ARMM has a budget of P10 billion allocated for the construction of 500 kilometers of roads, 45 seaports, and 91 water supply systems for the entire region. (Bureau of Public Information)
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