GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The national government has approved the release of around P1.5 billion for the development next year of two major road networks in South Cotabato province.
South Cotabato second district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez said the Department of Public Works and Highways has adopted upgrading of the Lake Sebu-Maitum road and the construction of the Surallah-T’boli-San Jose road as among the top priorities for 2016.
He said the agency has allotted around P800 million for the reconstruction of the Lake Sebu-Maitum road to all weather standards.
Another P700 million has been set aside for the construction of the Surallah-T’boli-San Jose road, he said.
“These projects are already in the pipeline for 2016 and we expect their preparatory works to begin soon,” he said at an alumni gathering of a public high school in Koronadal City on Sunday night.
Hernandez said Surallah-T’boli-San Jose road will connect the municipalities of Surallah and T’boli in South Cotabato and Barangay San Jose in this city.
He said it will serve as an alternative route to the city airport in Barangay Tambler, the city fish port complex in Barangay Calumpang and other strategic areas in this city and nearby Sarangani province.
The 75-kilometer Lake Sebu-Maitum road network connects the municipalities of Lake Sebu in South Cotabato and Maitum in Sarangani.
The P1.39-billion road project was earlier endorsed by the Regional Development Council of Region 12 as among the region’s priority development initiatives.