Road projects in Maguindanao to be completed this year 

Cotabato City, Philippines — About 30.1 kilometers of paved roads in 10 conflict-affected affected municipalities in Maguindanao are expected to be completed this year.

Official data from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) showed a total of 22.5  of the 30.1 kilometers  have already been paved out under the Humanitarian and Development Action Plan (ARMM-HDAP) which was drafted after the Mamasapano encounter on January 25, 2015.

The regional government is spending P371.1 million for the concreting of roads in conflict-affected municipalities in the province. ARMM-HDAP aims at addressing the immediate needs of the affected families as well as at providing follow-through interventions in affected communities.

It also aims at establishing a systematic and a coordinated approach in addressing and mitigating the effects of future disasters and calamities, leading to a more peaceful and resilient autonomous Muslim region.

The infrastructure projects implemented by the Maguindanao 2^nd district engineering office covers the municipalities of Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo and Talayan.

Projects in these towns include the concreting of: Nunangen-Tungal and Nunangen-Tungal Phase II roads in Datu Anggal Midtimbang; Philippine Trade-Duguengen-Tukanalipao, Malingao-Malibutan Phase II, and Dado-Muntay Phase II roads in Mamasapano;  Timbangan-Labu-Labu, Kayakaya-Tukanalugong, Guinibon-Sugadol, and Talisawa-Mao roads in Datu Abdullah Sangki; Dilembong-Duguengen road in Shariff Saydona Mustapha;Municipal road in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan; Kitango-Maganoy and Sitio Taguan-Panaang-Balanakan roads in Datu Saudi Ampatuan; Sambolawan-Madia road in Datu Salibo; and South and North Binangga road in Talayan.

Engr. James Mlok, 2^nd district engineering office chief, said the road improvement projects in these towns would help boost the local economic situations.“The projects will make the transport of products easier, thereby, increase profits,” Engr. Mlok said, noting the projects would also address issues of peace and development in the communities.

Sharing his story in the improvement of lives of the people in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, barangay chairperson Ismael Hashim said: “Nakatulong ng malaki ang kalsada at tulay dito sa Barangay Tukanalipao dahil hindi na nahihirapan ang mga tao magdala ng mga produkto sa palengke.”

The HDAP has helped barangays in uplifting livelihoods across 15 municipalities in Maguindanao and continues to contribute in creating stable and sustainable communities across the region.-PR/ARMM information bureau