LGU Magpet's proposed Magpet-Davao road covers 46.33 km from Don Panaca to Bukidnon-Davao Higway junction in Barangay Lumondao, Davao City. The route in pink was the plan that the LGU put forth in 2014 . (Source: LGU Magpet)
KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Feb. 5 (PIA) — Magpet’s local government unit is pushing for the opening and concreting of a road connecting the municipality in Cotabato Province to Davao City.
Magpet Mayor Florenito Gonzaga presented the plan during the 5th meeting of the Regional Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in Sultan Kudarat on Friday and received support from task force.
“The road project will help the efforts of the government to end communism in the area in the boundaries with Davao City,” Mayor Gonzaga said, describing the location as “geographically isolated and depressed area and conflict affected area because of high influence of the local terrorist group New Peoples’ Army.”
“The area has long served as point of entry and exit of NPAs from Davao City, especially those coming from Paquibato, Marilog, and Tugbok Districts, to the Municipality of Magpet because of the unopened and undeveloped road,”he explained.
The proposed project entitled “Road Opening/Concreting of Pangao-an-Don Panaca to Davao City via Salaysay (Indawhong-Ballah-Masawang) to Lumondao (Junction Bukidnon to Davao) Road” covers 46.33 kilometers.
This includes improvement of 13.04-km existing Pangao-an-Don Panaca road, rehabilitation of 6.87-km old logging road from Don Panaca to Sitio Langguay, opening of a road out of a 6.25-km trail from Sitio Langguay to the logging road, rehabilitation of the existing 2.68-km logging road to Sitio Indawhong, and improvement of a 17.49-km existing road from Sitio Indawhong to Barangay Lumondao (junction of Bukidnon-Davao highway). Lumondao is only 41.46 km to Ulas in Davao City.
“Besides addressing the problems regarding presence of communist terrorists in the area, this road project will also boost economic activities between Magpet and Davao City,” Gonzaga said.
“This road will also be the shortest alternate route from General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat Province, Kidapawan City and other parts of SOCCSKSARGEN Region in case the national highway from Digos City to Davao City is cut off.”
Engr. Daniel Uy, planning and development officer, pointed out further that the road project could attract investors for agro-industrial development and boost tourism activities in Magpet as well as Marilog District.
In response, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña, cabinet officer for regional development and security (CORDS) in Region 12, said he agrees with and supports the LGU's proposal.
“Please submit your proposal and we will refer it to the Infastructure Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC XII) for a conduct of a feasibility study. Once this is ready, the RDC, jointly with the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC XII) because it it has peace and order implications can act on it."
Engr. Uy reported that in 2002, Mayor Rolando Pelonio proposed the opening of a road network from Barangay Manobo in Magpet to Barangay Tamayong in Davao City but the proposal did not push through because the planned route affects a protected area in Mt. Apo.
In 2014, Mayor Gonzaga planned to open another route from Don Panaca to Tambobong-Tamugan Road but this too was shelved because the route passes through Davao City’s watershed area.
In December 2019, personnel from the Mindanao Development Authority, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, CENRO Matalam and DPWH Tugbok District conducted an ocular inspection in the area and agreed that the new proposed road is viable. (PIA 12)
Magpet Mayor Florenito Gonzaga presented the plan during the 5th meeting of the Regional Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in Sultan Kudarat on Friday and received support from task force.
“The road project will help the efforts of the government to end communism in the area in the boundaries with Davao City,” Mayor Gonzaga said, describing the location as “geographically isolated and depressed area and conflict affected area because of high influence of the local terrorist group New Peoples’ Army.”
“The area has long served as point of entry and exit of NPAs from Davao City, especially those coming from Paquibato, Marilog, and Tugbok Districts, to the Municipality of Magpet because of the unopened and undeveloped road,”he explained.
The proposed project entitled “Road Opening/Concreting of Pangao-an-Don Panaca to Davao City via Salaysay (Indawhong-Ballah-Masawang) to Lumondao (Junction Bukidnon to Davao) Road” covers 46.33 kilometers.
This includes improvement of 13.04-km existing Pangao-an-Don Panaca road, rehabilitation of 6.87-km old logging road from Don Panaca to Sitio Langguay, opening of a road out of a 6.25-km trail from Sitio Langguay to the logging road, rehabilitation of the existing 2.68-km logging road to Sitio Indawhong, and improvement of a 17.49-km existing road from Sitio Indawhong to Barangay Lumondao (junction of Bukidnon-Davao highway). Lumondao is only 41.46 km to Ulas in Davao City.
“Besides addressing the problems regarding presence of communist terrorists in the area, this road project will also boost economic activities between Magpet and Davao City,” Gonzaga said.
“This road will also be the shortest alternate route from General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat Province, Kidapawan City and other parts of SOCCSKSARGEN Region in case the national highway from Digos City to Davao City is cut off.”
Engr. Daniel Uy, planning and development officer, pointed out further that the road project could attract investors for agro-industrial development and boost tourism activities in Magpet as well as Marilog District.
In response, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña, cabinet officer for regional development and security (CORDS) in Region 12, said he agrees with and supports the LGU's proposal.
“Please submit your proposal and we will refer it to the Infastructure Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC XII) for a conduct of a feasibility study. Once this is ready, the RDC, jointly with the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC XII) because it it has peace and order implications can act on it."
Engr. Uy reported that in 2002, Mayor Rolando Pelonio proposed the opening of a road network from Barangay Manobo in Magpet to Barangay Tamayong in Davao City but the proposal did not push through because the planned route affects a protected area in Mt. Apo.
In 2014, Mayor Gonzaga planned to open another route from Don Panaca to Tambobong-Tamugan Road but this too was shelved because the route passes through Davao City’s watershed area.
In December 2019, personnel from the Mindanao Development Authority, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, CENRO Matalam and DPWH Tugbok District conducted an ocular inspection in the area and agreed that the new proposed road is viable. (PIA 12)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.