LAMITAN CITY (October 22) — The Bangsamoro Ministry of Public Works has ordered its nine district engineering offices to accelerate infrastructure projects and resolve construction bottlenecks, as a regional performance review examines project delivery and fund disbursements from 2022 to 2026. Officials have yet to disclose the extent of project delays or unspent allocations.
The directive was issued during a three-day Ministry Performance Assessment Conference in Cagayan de Oro City, where officials reviewed physical accomplishments, financial disbursements, road maintenance and other project implementation indicators.
Acting Basilan District Engineer Alnaif Ronie Cuevas said MPW Minister Arch. Eduard Guerra and Director-General Engr. Danilo Ong instructed district engineers to take a more proactive role in addressing problems encountered by contractors in the field.
District offices were also directed to coordinate closely with local government units and contractors to ensure the timely completion of public infrastructure projects, Cuevas said.
The assessment covered nine engineering districts: Lanao 1st, Lanao 2nd, Maguindanao 1st, Maguindanao 2nd, Sulu 1st, Sulu 2nd, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Cotabato City.
Regional evaluators examined physical accomplishments, fund disbursements, road maintenance records, materials quality control compliance and the implementation of infrastructure projects covered by agreements with local governments.
Cuevas said the Basilan District Engineering Office had improved its overall project delivery compared with previous assessment cycles.
Projects funded for 2026 were moving into active construction following contract awards, while projects funded in 2025 and earlier fiscal years continued to progress, he said.
The assessment results, however, did not specify how many projects remained unfinished, how much funding was yet to be disbursed or whether earlier projects had missed their completion deadlines.
Basilan seeks P1.7 billion for 2027
Cuevas said the Basilan District Engineering Office had proposed P1.7 billion for the province’s regular infrastructure program under the proposed 2027 budget.
The proposed allocation would cover regular infrastructure development, excluding administrative and personnel expenses, he said.
The funding request will undergo budget hearings and deliberations before the Bangsamoro Parliament following the appointment of its new members.
The proposed amount remains subject to approval. For communities awaiting roads and other public facilities, the ministry’s performance will ultimately depend on whether approved funds translate into completed infrastructure delivered on schedule.
