Public Works and Highways Mark Villar said that the P3.4-billion Surallah-T’boli-San Jose-General Santos City Road is on track with ongoing civil works already reaching 95 percent accomplishment.
Citing reports from DPWH Region 12 Director Basir Ibrahim, Villar explained that the multi-year project involves the construction of a 66.69-kilometer, two-lane concrete road, two bridges, with provision of line canal and road safety facilities.
“The project will connect the neighboring municipalities of Lake Sebu, Surallah, and T’boli of South Cotabato to the commercial centers, seaport, and airport in General Santos City.”
“The project will connect the neighboring municipalities of Lake Sebu, Surallah, and T’boli of South Cotabato to the commercial centers, seaport, and airport in General Santos City,” the public works chief said.
“When completed, travel time from Surallah to General Santos City will be reduced from two hours to only an hour through the road which bypasses the usually congested main route along the Banga-Tupi-Korondal City-Polomolok Road,” the public works head added.
DPWH is presently undertaking the concreting of 12.65-kilometer road funded under 2019 and 2020 budget, adding to the 25.41 kilometers that has already been completed since the project started in 2016.
Meanwhile, funding for the remaining 6.69-kilometer road gap was included in the proposed 2021 budget.
A 2,700 square-meter slope protection project is also proposed for implementation in 2022 to ensure safer travel while providing road stability and protection against scour and erosion particularly on sections with steep slide slopes.
“The project generated a total of 594 job opportunities for skilled and nonskilled workers in the region.”
“To date, the project generated a total of 594 job opportunities for skilled and nonskilled workers in the region and also served as a way to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth by supporting the increasing investment hubs and agri-tourism industry in SOCCSKSARGEN,” Villar concluded.