ARMM proposes road rehab in 2 Maguindanao towns

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / February 5, 2010) – The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao has proposed to rehabilitate two major roads in the towns of Sultan Kudarat and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao province.

Regional Public Works Secretary Titingalangit Sumagayan said the proposed rehabilitation of Pinaring-Simsiman Road in Sultan Kudarat and the Tamontaka-Tapian Road in Datu Odin Sinsuat needs over P1 billion in fresh funding.

Sumagayan said the project will provide all-weather roads that would spur trade and commerce in the area.

He said there were also proposals to rehabilitate the Iligan-Marawi Road, Davao-Cotabato Road, Kidapawan-Ala Road, Bito-Marawi Road, Sultan Kudarat Border-Butig-Lumbayanague Road, Cotabato-General Santos Road, Maganoy-Sultan sa Barongis Road, Limbo-Pinaring-Manuangan Road and Datu Saudi Ampatuan Road.

All these are part of the so-called Road Network Development Master Plan for ARMM and would contribute to peace building efforts in the Muslim autonomous region, Sumagayan said.

The Japan International Coordinating Agency is facilitating technical support to the DPWH-ARMM, but there has been no commitment of financial grant to the Road Network Development Master Plan, according to JICA Study Team Leader, Mitsuo Kuichi.

Since 2005, the Japanese government committed some 2.47 billion yen through ARMM Social Fund Project to support the peace and development program of the Arroyo government. (Mark Navales and Becky de Asis contributed to this report)