The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Friday, Dec. 9, that it will expedite several road projects in Mindanao which are crucial in the realization of the national government’s rebuilding program for the Islamic City of Marawi five years after the 2017 siege.
In his report to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is backing four contract packages of civil works for Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 3 under the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM).
It has a total length of 18.78 kilometers implemented by DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) - Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral) headed by Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista, with Project Manager Francisco M. Sawali as overall project in-charge.
Sadain was designated to oversee overall supervision for the DPWH flagship infrastructure projects under the continuing "Build Better More" Program and in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Sadain inspected Marawi City on Thursday, Dec. 8, to oversee regular on-site inspection activities to provide guidance and resolve issues on the ground towards prompt completion of projects.
He said the JICA-funded RNDP-CAAM components in Marawi City are already more than halfway through construction completion.
“The delivery of these JICA and ADB-funded roads are crucial for the DPWH Bangon Marawi initiatives to become a reality as it would be easy for people to travel within Marawi City,” said Sadain.
It includes the CP-3A with a total length of 4.87 kilometers at 68 percent awarded to Fiat Construction Services and M.M.A. Achiever; CP-3B with 4.92 kilometers length at 77 percent under contract; CP-3C with a total of 4.34 kilometers at 86 percent under contract; and CP-3D with 4.65 kilometers length at 69 percent contract awarded.
Meanwhile, DPWH UPMO-Roads Management Cluster 2 was implementing the rehabilitation of an existing 5.29 kilometers of trans-central roads and 4.71 kilometers of existing Mindanao State University (MSU) Roads, including the Reconstruction and Development Plan for a Greater Marawi - Stage 2 financed by a loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Under the field construction supervision of Project Manager Jake Mambuay, the rehabilitation of existing trans-central roads awarded to Fiat Construction Services and Mindanao State University (MSU) Roads under Kouzbary Builders are at 49 percent and 61 percent, respectively.