MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to start this year the construction of the 19-km. ring road and trans-central roads in Marawi City worth PHP20 billion.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the feasibility study on these roads has been completed, and the department was able to get a USD200-million (PHP10.5-billion) loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“We are in the procurement process. By the third quarter of this year we would begin with the civil works. We are looking to finalize the bidding/procurement and to award the contract during the second quarter,” Villar said in an interview on the sidelines of the launch of the “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” online portal on Tuesday.
He said that though they only have half of the total budget, they could start construction.
“The loan would be used in constructing the 19-km ring road around Marawi City to spur development along the outlying areas. It would open up the city while the trans-central roads, we intend to widen these roads and set a standard width,” Villar said.
The DPWH chief noted that they expect the project to be completed by 2020.
The project in Marawi is part of the Road Network Master Plan for the entire country, which was drawn up by the DPWH and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Since it will be financed by the ADB, Villar said foreign contractors are allowed to join the bidding process.
Last year, Marawi City was the main battleground in the five-month war between government forces and Maute terrorists. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
