COTABATO CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) has completed 1,599 km. of road projects from 2012 to 2018.
For this year, data provided by the DPWH–ARMM indicated that since Sept. 14, some 508.685 km., or 22.075 percent of the targeted road projects, have begun construction, while 183.382 km., or 7.958 percent, have yet to begin construction.
The DPWH-ARMM said the province of Lanao del Sur received the most number of road projects with 335, followed by Maguindanao with 306, Sulu with 277, and Basilan and Tawi-Tawi with 247 and 173, respectively.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said on Wednesday that the road projects were intended to make communities, particularly those with security problems, feel the presence of the government through infrastructure programs, among others.
“Government programs directly promote peace and development,” the governor said.
Hataman noted that through the new roads, constituents in the region now have easy access to government services on transportation, health, trade and industry, agriculture and fishery, and tourism, all considered vital in boosting the region’s economy.
During the past six years, the ARMM government said it has allotted more than PHP35 billion for the road projects, many of which are located in conflict-affected and far-flung communities of the region. (Noel Punzalan/PNA)
