The Department of Public Works and Highways said it is expediting the construction in the the ongoing 230-kilometer Improving Growth Corridors for Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) funded by a loan with the Asian Development Bank. 

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said instructed Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain to closely monitor the progress of work at the ongoing three  core major road projects in the Zamboanga Peninsula. 

The three  core road projects of the P25.26 billion ADB-assisted IGCMRSP are the Alicia-Malangas Road and Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road in Zamboanga Sibugay and the Tampilisan-Sandayong Road in Zamboanga del Norte. 

According to  Sadain, the COVID-19 pandemic caused temporary halt on the ongoing civil works but under the direct supervision of project implementing office UPMO Roads Management Cluster 2 (Multilateral), projects which were started in March 2019 made progress with the implemented catch-up measures for the contractors.

To date, 4.03 lane kilometer of Alicia-Malangas Road were paved with concrete cement 28 centimeter in thickness on required width of 6.70 meter. About 11.79 kilometer full road width are also laid with subbase materials.

With an accomplishment of 24.47 percent, the 23.73 kilometer Alicia-Malangas Road also involves the construction of bridges with a total length of 302.52 lineal meter. 

Although hampered by adverse weather condition, about 12.47 lane kilometer of the 29.10 kilometer Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road were already paved with concrete and has increased its accomplishment rate at 30.86 percent. 

In Zamboanga del Norte, the 15.07 kilometer Tampilisan-Sandayong Road posted 25.58 percent accomplishment with about 4.95 kilometer of full road width paved with concrete cement. 

As figures of COVID-19 active cases in Zamboanga Peninsula remains high, Undersecretary Sadain reminded the contractors, consultants and and assigned DPWH staff to ensure strict compliance with the construction health and safety guidelines issued by Secretary Villar. 

Meanwhile, Sadain said that four other contract packages, recently bidded and awarded, will commence construction activities this fourth quarter of 2020 with another contract package under perfection of its contract also to start civil works within this year.  

These projects are the construction of Gutalac-Baliguian Alternative Road and R.T. Lim-Siocon Road in Zamboanga del Norte; Curuan-Sibuco Road in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Norte; and the Siay-Gapol Road and Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay.

All these eight road contract packages and one major bridge of Guicam Bridge in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula are essential to the continuing economic growth of Western Mindanao and neighboring areas in Mindanao, Undersecretary Sadain added.

Procurement is also targeted this October 2020 for the three  Tawi-Tawi Bridges under IGCMRSP namely: Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge, Tongsinah-Paniongan Bridge, Malassa-Lupa Pula Bridge.