DPWH told: Speed up road projects in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to speed up the completion of road projects in Mindanao before her term ends next year to boost the peace process and economic activities there.

Acting Public Works and Highways Secretary Victor Domingo said the President wants major roads, highways and bridges leading to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) completed soon so as to provide “peace dividends” and prevent more high-profile criminal incidents from happening like the recent kidnapping of Irish missionary Michael Sinnott.

“Well, the President told me to finish these projects before the end of her term or have them off and running by then,” Domingo said in a statement.

Domingo said the President specifically ordered the immediate completion of paving work on the 41-kilometer Banisilan-Guiling-Alamada Road that would connect North Cotabato and Lanao del Sur.

The DPWH is also rushing work on the P2-billion Awang-Upi-Lebak-Kalamansig Junction in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao. The project is now 60 percent complete.