MANILA —At least seven major infrastructure projects totaling 18-billion
pesos under President Arroyo’s Mindanao super region strategy are now ready
for taking, according to Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza.
At the 2nd Government Infrastructure Forum held last week at Edsa Shang-rila
Hotel, Dureza presented projects that include roads, bridges, irrigation
with power generation, and a food complex as having greater economic
viability and with high impact on peace.
Dureza, also the development champion for Mindanao super region, said that
the projects are meant to provide much-needed livelihood opportunities and
income sources particularly for families in the conflict-affected and poor
communities.
“While standard economic measurements estimate positive dividends for these
projects, their actual social and political benefits will simply outweigh
the economic gains because of the beneficial impact on peace and security,”
he stressed.
Topping the list of projects is the Kabulnan-II Multipurpose Irrigation and
Power Project located in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao,
which involves the construction of 80-meter high zoned earthfill dam that
would irrigate a 19,300-hectare service area.
The project will provide supplemental irrigation requirements for 11,000
hectares in the existing Kabulnan-I irrigation system during dry season, and
generate 110-megawatts of hydro-electric power to help stabilize power
supply in the area. An estimated 9,253 farming families are expected to
benefit from this project.
Costing more than P12-billion, the Kabulnan-II Multipurpose Irrigation and
Power Project is the largest under the Mindanao super region in terms of
amount and is being proposed for funding through Official Development
Assistance (ODA) and under Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) or Build-Transfer
(BT) schemes.
Next on the list is the P2.6-billion Panguil Bay Bridge Project to connect
and significantly cut travel time to cross Tubod, Lanao del Norte and
Tangub, Misamis Occidental. One of the priority projects cited by the
President in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year, the Panguil
Bay Bridge Project is proposed for funding through BOT and will be
implemented from 2008-2011.
Another proposed project is the Davao Food Exchange Complex, which will
set-up a distribution center for consolidating, processing, packaging and
storing agricultural products in Mindanao. The P1-billion food complex
project is proposed for financing through commercial loan, venture capital
or ODA. The National Development Company (NDC), City Government of Davao and
the Department of Trade and Industry XI shall partner in the implementation
of this project, which is slated for implementation from 2007-2012.
Other projects in the list include the Saug River Multi-Purpose Project
Phase I in New Corella in Davao del Norte;
SangaSangaLapidLapidSaldangBato-Bato Road and Bridge Project in
Tawi-Tawi; Surallah-Lake Sebu-Maitum Road Project in South Cotabato and
Sarangani; Lower Sibuguey Valley Irrigation Project in Zamboanga Sibugay.
MEDCo
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