Saturday, August 22, 2015

Basilan, Sulu to benefit from P329-M infra projects

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 22): Basilan, Sulu to benefit from P329-M infra projects

Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Thursday announced the start of P329 million worth of seaport expansion and road projects in Basilan and Sulu.

Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the projects were expected to help restore normalcy in the two provinces that has been hounded by terrorism and violence.

Believing that development helps eradicate conflict, Hataman and ARMM Public Works Secretary Engr. Don Mustapha Loong signed the contracts for the projects which were awarded to the winning bidders.

The projects include the expansion and improvement of the seaports in Lamitan City in Basilan and in Jolo town in Sulu. The P194-million undertaking will be implemented by LG Lagascar, Incorporated.

Also signed were contracts for the concreting of a road network in Basilan province worth P135.8 million. It will be undertaken by Santiago, Inc.

To ensure transparency and accountability, Hataman and Loong both urged the public, non government organizations, including the media to keep a close watch on the projects.

“The public should get involved, we are spending government money and public scrutiny is necessary to avoid corruption,” Hataman told reporters. “Even suspicion should not be an issue if government projects are implemented above board.”

He assured that all projects in ARMM were subjected to public bidding in accordance with Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) to guarantee efficiency and transparency in project implementation.

Funds for the projects were taken from the ARMM’s 2015 infrastructure subsidy.

The ARMM public works office has also allocated P145.5 million for the repair of Lamitan City seaport while P48.5 million has been set aside for the repair and rehabilitation of Jolo seaport and gateway.

In Basilan, road concreting has started for the P38.8-million Tipo-Tipo-Sangkuyut road, the P27.1-million Sangkuyut-Bohe Suyat road, the P11.6-million Materling-Tong Bato road and the P58.2-million Amaloy-Matata-Bucalao road, all in the town of Ungkaya Pukan.

Hataman assured the people of Basilan that road concreting will continue despite threats from extremist Abu Sayyaf Group which repeatedly attempted, but failed, to disrupt government projects in the island province.

Government forces will help secure private contractors in completing the development projects.

http://www.mb.com.ph/basilan-sulu-to-benefit-from-p329-m-infra-projects/

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