MANILA, Philippines — With help from the Japanese government, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) provides road network infrastructure in hopes of revitalizing the economy of Marawi City in Lanao Del Sur.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said Thursday that the rehabilitation of the 18.97-kilometer Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1 has provided better access to basic services, increased trade, and contributed to the city’s economic activity, which saw a siege following an attack by the IS-inspired Maute group in 2017.
In a statement, Villar said two out of three contract packages (CP) for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-grant projects are already completed, with the remaining package aimed at completing the ancillary or drainage works targeted to be finished by August 2021.
“The improvement of roads in Marawi City and its surrounding areas is among the national government’s infrastructure flagship projects in support to the transition to Bangsamoro government that will help boost peace-building efforts and open up opportunities for people to improve their quality of life,” the DPWH said.
According to Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office Operations Emil Sadain, the Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1 is the first among the significant projects in the government’s plan for the reconstruction and development of a “Greater Marawi.”
DPWH said the design and building of Bacong-Poona-Marantao-Marawi Road, GMA Terminal Access, Marawi-Cadre-New Capitol, Marcos Boulevard, and Idarus Road Section, measuring a total of 5.45 kilometers under CP 1-B was completed.
Meanwhile, a road network capacity improvement for the MSU-GMA Road and Lumindong-Amaipakpak Avenue under CP 2, measuring a total of 3.90 kilometers was likewise completed.
Sadain, during his inspection of the Marawi Transcentral Road, instructed concerned contractors and construction companies to collaborate to meet the targeted full completion of the remaining civil works for the 9.41-kilometer Bacong-Iligan-Marawi Road Section under CP 1A this August.
Sadain was accompanied by Project Director Sharif Madsmo Hasim and Project Manager Francisco Sawali in the inspection of Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1 and the newly started Phase 3 which is another 18.78-kilometer road rehabilitation project also funded by JICA under the official development assistance loan financing for Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao.
The Marawi Transcentral Road Project Phase 3 has four packages, according to DPWH:
- Package 3A with a total length of 4.87 kilometers consisting of Cabingan-MSU Campus-Amai Pakpak Avenue (Road 6), MSU Campus-Matampay-Marantao Road (Road 7), Rapasa-Bayaba Road (Road 20)
- Package 3B with a total length of 4.92 kilometers consisting of Emie-Sagonsongan-Linao-Lantian Road (Road 9-1), MSU-Bubo Road (Road 13), and Rantian-Paling Road (Road 14).
- Package 3C with a total length of 4.34 kilometers consisting of Linao-Alinan Road (Road 15), Emie-Sagunsungan-Linao-Rantian Road (Road 9-2), Rorogagus-Mipaga Road (Road 25), and Bito-Mipaga-Marawi Road (Road 26)
- Package 3D with a total length of 4.65 km with the following components: Bacong-Poona-Marantao-Marawi Road (Road 2-3); Bito-Rorogagus-Guimba Road (Road 11); and Tampilong Road (Road 28). Kenzie Kinsella, trainee
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