ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Zamboanga City Council on Tuesday expressed its objection to the construction of a P110-million office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) inside the Zamboanga Department of Public Works and Highways engineering compound.
Zamboanga lawmakers also recalled a previous resolution allowing the construction of the building after the project received negative reactions from officials and residents last week.
“We are now consistent with our stand,” said Zamboanga councilor Joselito Macrohon, author of the resolution to recall the approval.
Zamboanga City voted against the inclusion of their city in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) and the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) during past referendums.
Meanwhile, the resolution of objection was passed after the ceremonial groundbreaking activity led by Acting DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado and other public works officials on June 2.
The Regional Project Management Office for the BARMM is a three-story office building with basement located inside the DPWH Zamboanga District Engineering Office.
The office intends to monitor and address backlogs in infrastructure projects implemented within the BARMM region.
In an interview, Mercado said the project is already in the pipeline with the government eyeing a loan package from the Asian Development Bank for its implementation.