World Bank mulls P1-B highway project in Koronadal

Koronadal City – The World Bank (WB) is seriously considering the proposal of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to open a P1-billion, 80-kilometer highway that would connect Koronadal City, Central Mindanao’s regional seat, to Columbio, Sultan Kudarat and will lead all the way to Digos City in the Davao Del Sur.

According to Columbio Mayor Edwin Bermudez, DPWH-Sultan Kudarat has already conducted an "ocular and traffic survey" in the areas as required by the WB.

"We are really happy about it because the proposed 80-kilometer road project would surely trigger more economic benefits to the localities, especially the town of Columbio, which is a landlocked, impoverished town in Sultan Kudarat," Bermudez said.

"It will practically bring developments to our town. We see it as a gift of God for a zero infrastructure town," he added.

Bermudez said the soon-to-be constructed highway will be the "third gateway" of Koronadal City and to Digos City in Davao del Sur. It is expected to shorten the trip by 50 kilometers.

Columbio is the second largest municipality in Sultan Kudarat composed of 11 towns. Although abundant with natural resources, the town has remained poor because it’s potentials for growth has not been tapped, Bermudez said.

Municipal Planning and Development Officer Amante del Muro disclosed that for many years, Columbio has not received infrastructure funding from both the national government and foreign institutions.

"We mainly relied on our own local revenues and our internal revenue allotment (IRA) in constructing farm-to-market roads and other projects that could meet the basic needs of the town residents," Del Muro said.