The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Ministry of Public Works discussed on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, the progress of crucial infrastructure projects being implemented for the Bangsamoro. 

DPWH  Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain represented Secretary Roger G. Mercado in the meeting with BARMM Public Works Minister Eduard Guerra at the DPWH Central Office to tackle updates on program to support the rehabilitation of Marawi City, rehabilitation of Quirino Bridge in Cotabato City, request for permits along national highways by telecommunication companies, and updates on BARMM projects financed under Official Development Assistance(ODA). 

Also present during the meeting are MPW BARMM Director General Danilo A. Ong and the officials of DPWH Regional Project Management Office (RPMO) for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RPMO-BARMM) headed by OIC-Director Najib Dilangalen with Project Manager for Maguindanao Usman Baraguir; Project Manager for Sulu Barlie Nahudan; OIC Project Manager for Lanao del Sur Reyderick Siozon; OIC Project Manager for Tawi-Tawi Sani Uttoh; and Engineer Evangeline Fernando of RPMO-BARMM. 

“This meeting is very timely for DPWH and the Ministry of Public Works, as a team and as a family, is fully committed to putting the effort needed to address the backlog on infrastructure in BARMM and bring development for the Bangsamoro,” said Undersecretary Sadain. 

According to Undersecretary Sadain, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s designated Chief Implementer of flagship projects under Build Build Build Program, the national government thru DPWH continues to promote economic development in areas devastated by armed conflict in 2017 by implementing the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) and Emergency Assistance for Reconstruction and Recovery of Marawi (EARRM) financed by Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), respectively.   

The civil works for the rehabilitation of existing 5.29 kilometer Transcentral Roads in Lanao Del Sur and 4.71 kilometer MSU Roads under EARRM implemented have already started.  

Other project components of EARRM namely the construction of 4.32 kilometers new Transcentral Roads with drainage, three (3) main drainage channels with a total length of 6.21 kilometers, construction of Rorogagus Bridge and replacement of three (3) other bridges, and slope protection and rehabilitation on Marawi Bito Road and Lasureco Road are all under detailed engineering design stage while the planned construction of 2.4 kilometer Malabang viaduct is under feasibility study. 

Detailed engineering design of the 19.8 kilometers Marawi Ring Road under JICA loan is also on-going.

In 2021, DPWH completed the construction of 18.97 kilometers road network under the 2-billion yen JICA grant assistance for the Program for the Support to Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Marawi City and Its Surrounding Areas. 

Significant developments are also expected with the funding of the construction of Tawi-Tawi Circumferential Road while the remaining portion of Sulu Circumferential Road is ongoing and targetted for completion within this year 2022.  

Meanwhile, it’s all systems go for the rehabilitation of Quirino Bridge in Cotabato City with the mobilization and first delivery of fabricated steel components on the second week of March and April. 

During the meeting, DPWH reported that the national roads in BARMM is now included in the Department’s Road and Bridge Information Application (RBIA), enabling up-to-date road and bridge information for better monitoring while the feasibility study, project plan, and program of works for the Jolo Water Works has also been completed by Woodfields Consultants Inc. and is now ready for the procurement process. 

“Now that DPWH RPMO in BARMM has been established, rest assured that MPW will work hand in hand as we have a crucial task to carry out infrastructure development programs within the autonomous region,” said Director General Ong. 

Under the FY 2022 DPWH Infrastructure Program, a total of ₱4.9 Billion is allotted for the implementation of infrastructure projects implemented in BARMM Provinces located in Regions 9, 10, and 12. (DPWH)