Cagayan de Oro—The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has completed 1,599 kilometers of roads from 2012 to 2018, the Regional Government’s Bureau of Public Information said Wednesday.
Data from the region’s Public Works department also showed 508.685 km or 22.075 percent of the target, are still ongoing as of Sept. 14 this year. Another 183.382 km or 7.958 percent are yet to be started.
The province of Lanao del Sur received the most number of road projects in the region as it registered a total of 335, followed by Maguindanao with 306, Sulu with 277, and Basilan and Tawi-Tawi with 247 and 173, respectively.
“These initiatives will make the communities, especially in areas with security problems, feel the presence of the government,” ARMM Gov. Mujiv S. Hataman said.
The ARMM’s infrastructure program, the governor said, directly promotes peace and development.
The region’s constituents will now have easy access to government’s services on transportation, health, trade and industry, agriculture and fishery, tourism, all considered vital in boosting the region’s economy, Hataman added.
ARMM has allocated over P35 billion for the implementation of these road projects during the last six years. Many of the road projects are located in conflict-affected and far-flung communities.
Lanao del Sur Gov. Bae Bajora Soraya Adiong said their “dream roads” projects are now nearing completion.
“We are working hard in making these roads and other infrastructure projects a reality,” Adiong said.
The dream roads project One connects Wao and Amai Manabilang town directly to the province. Before, Wao and Amai Manabilang can only be reached via Lanao del Norte-Iligan City-Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro-Bukidnon route. an almost eight-hour road trip.
Dream Road Project 2 connects Marawi City to Talakag, Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro, cutting the trip from the usual four hours to just an hour.