Roads making sea travel obsolete in ARMM areas

COTABATO CITY—Roads are making obsolete sea travel, a traditional mode of transportation for people and goods in many provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Jaida Sampang, 60, head of the community organization Pagtayakupan Sin Hula Amaloy, said her group transported construction materials for a health center the cheaper and faster way on an almost completed Basilan Circumferential Road from Lamitan. She said it used to be a risky three-hour travel by boat for residents.

The circumferential road is 98 percent complete, said Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the ARMM.

Asked who the residents credit the development to, Sampang said there have been “no visible faces advertised on billboards” this time.

“Strong partnership accelerates development in the ARMM,” Hataman said during the signing of the memorandum of agreement with the provincial government of Sulu represented by Gov. Abdusakur Tan Jr. on July 28.

At least 11 road concreting projects worth P171 million would be implemented in Sulu this year.

Hataman said instead of his image or pictures of other leaders posted on billboards, government project billboards list only details of how funds were being used.

He appealed to the Abu Sayyaf and other armed groups to spare construction workers and the projects from attacks. Nash B. Maulana and Charlie C. Señase, Inquirer Mindanao