Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar led the inauguration rites signaling the completion of the 18.97-kilometer Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1 in the province of Lanao Del Sur.
“We do not just establish a landmark in a site facing scenic Lake Lanao but this monument area also reminds us that we have the rising and setting sun synonymous with renewal, hope, peace, and wonder for the City of Marawi is back to life,” declared Villar following the unveiling of the project marker.
The public works chief was joined in the project inauguration by Undersecretary Emil Sadain of DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations, Lanao Del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr., Marawi Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra, and Task Force Bangon Marawi Assistant Secretary Frederick Castro.
“Our government is fulfilling the promise to build back better with a peaceful road to recovery from the suffering due to the Marawi siege four years ago.”
“As you can see now, our government is fulfilling the promise to build back better with a peaceful road to recovery from the suffering due to the Marawi siege four years ago,” the public works head said.
According to Sadain, the Marawi Transcentral Road Phase 1 project that involves the design and build of 18.97-kilometer roads implemented under three contract packages (CP) was financed by a 2-billion Japanese Yen or ₱970.97-million grant to the Government of the Philippines by Government of Japan thru JICA.
“We are indeed very grateful to have the funding support of Japan for this project which is part of the holistic and comprehensive plan for rehabilitation and development for a Greater Marawi prepared by DPWH,” he said.
In a message from the Embassy of Japan to the Philippines, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa paid tribute to all the people involved in the construction for successfully completing this project, despite the considerable difficulty faced by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
Koshikawa said that the rehabilitation and maintenance of roads is indispensable for the movement of people and transport of goods which is the reason why Japan has been paying utmost attention to the cooperation initiative towards the recovery of Marawi City.
“This newly inaugurated transcentral road project of DPWH showcases that the rebuilding efforts to bring back a better Marawi is taking shape,” said Adiong.
Meanwhile, Gandamra conveyed gratitude on behalf of the people of Marawi as development infrastructure is completed in the city.
The completed project was implemented by DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral) headed by Project Director Benjamin Bautista and under direct construction monitoring and supervision of Project Manager Francisco Sawali.
The fully rehabilitated and improved road network covered by Marawi transcentral road phase 1 are: Bacong-Iligan-Marawi Road consists of Bacong-Marantao Section, MSU-Beyaba Damag Section, Basak-Malutlut-Datu Saber Section, Matampay-Emie Section, Sagonsongan-Saguiaran Jct., Saguiaran Road Section, and Lancaf-Heaven Road Gap Section with a total length of 9.41 kilometer under CP 1A built by Unimasters Conglomeration Inc./M.M. A Achievers Const. Dev’t. Corp./CDH Construction/Flying Seven Const. (joint venture); Bacong-Poona-Marantao-Marawi Road, GMA Terminal Access, Marawi-Cadre-New Capitol, Marcos Boulevard, and Idarus Road Section with a total length of 5.45 kilometer for CP 1B undertaken by Al Hussein Construction/N.B. Salbo Construction (JV); and MSU-GMA Road and Lumindong-Amaipakpak Avenue with a total length of 4.11 kilometer under CP2 completed ahead of time by Kouzbary Builders.
“The on-going and future infrastructure projects to be the catalyst of growth and development.”
Villar assured that the national government will continue to support Marawi City with the on-going and future infrastructure projects to be the catalyst of growth and development.
Sadain was earlier assigned by Villar to be the focal person for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindnanao (BARMM) Infra Projects and alternate representative in the Inter-Agency Task Force Bangon Marawi to ensure that national infrastructure projects based on the rehabilitation masterplan are on track.
Other than the design and build of the completed 18.97-kilometer transcentral road phase 1, the donation of Japan for the program for the support to rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi City and its surrounding areas was also utilized for the detailed engineering design of contract package 3 (CP3) – phase 3 consisting of 13 road sections with a total length of 18.78 kilometers.
Civil works have already started for CP 3 phase 3 which is another road rehabilitation project funded by an official development assistance (ODA) loan financing with JICA for Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM).
