DAVAO CITY — The reconstruction and rehabilitation of the 18.97-kilometer Marawi Transcentral Road Project-Stage 1 in Lanao Del Sur is moving fast, says Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar.
In a press statement, Villar said four DPWH contractors are working for its fast completion.
The roads were damaged during the Marawi crisis, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to order Villar to hasten the construction and rehabilitation.
During the last five months, residents of Marawi witness the fast development in the area, which will mean faster access to them in terms of goods and trade.
The statement said, Villar inspected the project with DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations and Technical Services Emil K. Sadain last week.
Villar said that with the aggressive push of implementing office UPMO-Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral) headed by Project Director Virgilio Castillo and Project Manager Francisco Sawali, construction activities of contractors are everywhere in every area of the P970 million road project financed by a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Notable accomplishment are stretches of completed single and double lanes of 280 millimeters portland concrete cement pavement (PCCP) road, excavation and installation of rectangular line canal for managing water runoff, and laying and compaction of subgrade and subbase materials ready for PCCP pouring.
For his part, Sadain lauded the cooperation and commitment of  consultants, contractors, and the stakeholders for their cooperation and support which might lead to the on time completion of the project middle of 2021.
Sadain also reminded them to maintain the work quality putting into consideration the present and future traffic volumes, and provide adequate drainage that can carry the storm water as an important element in pavement performance.
Given the urgency of the project in support to the government’s effort to rebuild conflict-affected  Marawi City, the urgent rehabilitation of road network will also pave the way for improved mobility of people and for better access to goods and services, Sadain added.-jap/
