The Department of Public Works and Highways said it secured a $380-million loan from the Asian Development Bank to improve road networks in Mindanao.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the project to be implemented from 2018 to 2023 would cover the construction of eight roads in Zamboanga Peninsula with a total length of 277.23 kilometers and additional three bridges in Tawi-Tawi province with a total length of 775 lineal meters.
“The whole project costs P25.257 billion. With the ADB loan, we can utilize more of our budget to other key infrastructure projects of the government,” Villar said.
Under the project, three core projects including the 23.69-kilometer Alicia-Malangas Road; 17.1-kilometer Tampilisan-Sandayong Road; and 37.49-kilometer Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road with 440-lineal meter Guicam Bridge would undergo the procurement process in the first quarter.
The detailed engineering design of five more projects including the 55.25-kilometer R.T. Lim-Siocon Road; 40-kilometer Lanao-Pagadian-Ipil-Zamboanga Road and Curuan-Sibuco Road; 34.5-kilometer Siay-Gapol Road; and the 27.76-kilometer Gutalac-Baliguian Alternative Road, was now 80-percent completed.
Bridges in Tawi-Tawi including Malassa-Lupa Pula; Tongsinah-Paniongan; and Nalil-Sikkiat will also be covered by the project.
The project is ADB’s first support for a regional project in the ‘Golden Age of Infrastructure’ under the Duterte administration.