Various line agencies are addressing major bottlenecks for the completion of infrastructure projects lined up under the Mindanao Super Region before 2010, according to a statement from the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco).
In a recent inter-agency meeting, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that as of November last year, 32 percent of various priority infrastructure projects under the Mindanao Super Region is almost complete.
Targeted to be completed this year is the Dinagat Island Road Network, which involves the improvement of a 15-kilometer road in Surigao del Norte. This road network, which began construction in October 2006, is now 65.57 percent complete, according to DPWH.
Three other major road projects — Zamboanga West Coast Road, Awang-Upi-Kalamansig-Lebak Road and Surigao-Davao Coastal Road — are ongoing and will be completed next year.
The 117.3-kilometer Zamboanga West Coast Road will connect the coastal municipalities of Sibuco, Sirawai, Siocon, Baliguian and Gutalac in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte while the P5.8 billion Surigao-Davao coastal road will connect the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental. The improvement and rehabilitation of the 87.6 kilometer Awang-Upi-Kalamansig-Lebak road in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat is due to start soon.
Along with the road construction, ongoing improvement of airport facilities and runway extension for the Butuan, Cotabato, Dipolog, Ozamiz, Pagadian and Zamboanga airports is expected to be completed this year.
In the same meeting, DOE reported that 91 percent or 9,140 barangays in Mindanao have been energized. To achieve full electrification in Mindanao by 2009, a total of 898 barangays are still to be provided with electricity.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) also said that the construction of the new wharf in the Cagayan de Oro Port is already 85.15 percent complete while port expansion of the Davao Port is 72.10 percent complete.
The Mindanao Super Region is part of the strategy announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her 2006 State of the Nation Address (SONA), which according to Arroyo, will develop Mindanao’s potential as the country’s agribusiness center.
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