ARMM Signs MOA with Basilan, Lanao Sur Execs for Road Projects

Cotabato City (PNA) — Lanao del Sur and Basilan residents can look up to more development projects after officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and two local government executives signed signed Monday the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the PHP136 million infrastructure projects.

ARMM Regional Gov. Mjib Hataman and Sec. Don Mustapha Loong of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-ARMM) led the MOA signing.

The projects in Basilan include the concreting of a six-kilometer road in Brgy. Kapatagan Small, Isabela City to Brgy. Boheh Nange, Lamitan City, and the 4,500-meter road in Brgy. Boheh Nange to Brgy. Sta. Clara in Lamitan City. The projects’ total cost amounts to PHP126 million.

“The two roads will form part of the trans-central road, a milestone project that will enable the people to traverse the province at the center and would open wide hectares of agricultural land open for development,” Sec. Loong said.

He also noted that over PHP1 billion will be allocated for the trans-central road in Basilan in 2016.

“We expect that the trans-central road will be functional in 2016,” Loong said.

Earlier, the circumferential road in Basilan was completed allowing motorists to circumnavigate the province in shorter time. This time, the regional government has chosen the local government units as implementers to further develop their capability to undertake such infrastructure projects.

“This will help far-flung barangays and alleviate social and economic conditions in the affected communities,” Mayor Rosita Furigay of Lamitan City said.

Water systems will also be built in the towns of Bacolod-Kalawi and Tubaran in the province of Lanao del Sur. The projects have a total appropriation of more than PHP10 million.

“Rest assured that we are doing on-site monitoring of our projects,” Sec. Loong added.

On September 4, an MOA for PHP124-million infra projects were also signed for the towns of Parang, Buldon and Sultan Mastura in Maguindanao and in Tamparen in Lanao del Sur.

The projects would be funded under the 2015 infrastructure budget program. At present, DPWH-ARMM is managing PHP10-billion worth of projects across the region.

Hataman has appealed to the people of Lanao del Sur and Basilan to help the regional government monitor the project implementation to ensure roads are completed as scheduled and according to standards. (PNA) FFC/NYP/EOF