DPWH fast-tracks road projects under rebuilding program for Marawi

MANILA: Some road projects that are part of the national government's rebuilding program for the Islamic City of Marawi are being accelerated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain informed DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is supporting four contract packages (CP) of civil works totaling 18.78 kilometers in length for Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 3 as part of the Road Network Development Project in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM).

The project is carried out by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) - Roads Management Cluster 1, under the supervision of Project Director Benjamin Bautista and Project Manager Francisco Sawali.

Sadain has been appointed to undertake overall supervision for all DPWH flagship infrastructure projects under the ongoing Build Better More Program and in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

He continues to conduct regular on-site inspection activities in Marawi City to address concerns on the ground and speed up the completion of projects that will eventually spur immediate economic recovery and growth.

The most recent inspection took place on December 8 in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur that he attended together with other DPWH representatives and other stakeholders.

According to Sadain, the following projects are more than halfway through the construction completion phase: CP-3A with a total length of 4.87 kilometers at 68% awarded to Fiat Construction Services and MMA Achiever consists of Cabingan-MSU Campus-Amai Pakpak Avenue (Road 6), MSU Campus-Matampay-Marantao Road (Road 7), and Rapasa-Bayaba Road (Road 20); and CP-3B with a total length of 4.92 kilometers at 77% under contract with Kouzbary Builders and Renren Trading and Construction Services that covers Emie-Sagonsongan-Linao-Lantian Road (Road 9-1), MSU-Bubo Road (Road 13) and Rantian-Paling Road (Road 14), CP-3C with a total length of 4.34 kilometers at 86% under Al Hussein Construction composed of Linao-Alinan Road (Road 15), Emie-Sagunsungan-Linao-Rantian Road (Road 9-2), Rorogagus-Mipaga Road (Road 25), and Bito-Mipaga-Marawi Road (Road 26); and CP-3D with a total length of 4.65 kilometers at 69% awarded to CDH Construction and covers Bacong-Poona-Marantao-Marawi Road (Road 2-3), Bito-Rorogagus-Guimba Road (Road 11) and Tampilong Road (Road 28).

The Reconstruction and Development Plan for a Greater Marawi - Stage 2 is currently being implemented by DPWH UPMO-Roads Management Cluster 2, under the supervision of Project Director Sharif Madsmo Hasim, on 5.29 kilometers of existing transcentral roads and 4.71 kilometers of existing Mindanao State University (MSU) roads. This project is being funded by a loan agreement between the Philippine government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The renovation of existing transcentral roads granted to Fiat Construction Services and MSU Roads under Kouzbary Builders is currently at 49% and 61%, respectively, under the field construction supervision of Project Manager Jake Mambuay.

According to Sadain, the completion of these JICA- and ADB-funded road projects is vital for the DPWH Bangon Marawi projects to succeed as it will make it easier for residents to get around Marawi City.

Other ADB-funded projects under the Emergency Assistance for Reconstruction and Recovery of Marawi include the construction of 120-meter Rorogagus Bridge with 386-meter approaches; slope protection of Marawi – Bito Road upper and lower slopes with a total length of 418 meters and road rehabilitation along Marawi – Bito Road and Lasureco Road with a gross length of 2,512 meters; construction of two-lane Malabang Viaduct in two sections of 600-meter and 1,200 meter length for a total 2.2 kilometers for flood prevention since Malabang suffers from heavy flooding and resultant heavy siltation on the Asian Highway or 26 Maharlika Highway and closing the road at frequent intervals; construction of three Main Drainage Channels including two connecting bridges with a total length of 6.391 kilometers; and construction of three bridges – Cabasaran-Banco, Guimba and Kormatan Matampay.

Photo from Department of Public Works and Highways

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