P25-B package targets 280 km of Mindanao roads, bridges

DAVAO CITY—The national government would spend more than P25 billion on projects that seek to change this sad statistic in Mindanao—three in every 10 of its roads are unpaved.

The project’s target, repair at least 280 kilometers of roads and bridges in the entire island, could be unprecedented.

According to Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, Mindanao Development Authority secretary, the ambitious project would be funded by a loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and counterpart financing from the national government.

At least P19 billion would come from the ADB loan while at least P6 billion from national government funds, Alonto said in a press statement.

Ripple effects

Richard Bolt, ADB country director, said in a press conference in Manila on Dec. 15 that the money would cover the cost of repair of at least 280 km of roads and bridges in northern Mindanao, southern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Alonto said the loan, already approved, “reaffirms ADB’s commitment” to progress in Mindanao.

The project, he said, would “create ripple effects in Mindanao” in terms of more businesses and jobs that would be spurred by good roads and bridges connecting Mindanao areas with one another.

Government data showed that among the country’s three main islands, Mindanao has the highest poverty incidence. At least 32 percent of the population in Mindanao live below the poverty line. This has been blamed largely on lack of economic opportunities as a result of armed conflicts.

Poorest areas

According to Alonto, the road repair project was also in line with the Duterte administration’s “build, build, build program.”

He said roads and bridges identified for repair in the program were located in areas where the poverty incidence was highest and where progress is barely felt.

“This is really all about bringing progress closer to
the people,” Alonto said. “We could not be more grateful to ADB,” he said.

Jeffrey Miller, principal transport specialist at ADB’s Southeast Asia Department, said improving roads in Mindanao was key to economic opportunities “in areas such as agribusiness, ecotourism and logistics.” Miller said good roads would also “improve access to markets, jobs, education and health facilities.” —ALLAN NAWAL