Cotabato City – The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) is sourcing out some P1 billion to undertake the repair of two major road networks in the two towns of Maguindanao.

DPWH-ARMM Secretary Titingalangit Sumagayan said the Pinaring-Simsiman Road in Sultan Kudarat town, and the Tamontaka-Tapian Road in Datu Odin Sinsuat, need to be rehabilitated to improve their road density and safety.

Sumagayan made the proposal during a conference on the Road Network Development Master Plan with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The upgrading of the 18.4-kilometer section of the 20.1-kilometer Pinaring-Simsiman Road, and the 16.0-kilometer section of the 20.4-kilometer Tamontaka-Tapian Road have an estimated outlay of over P1-B – R555.32 million, and P473.62 million, respectively – Sumagayan said.

Once completed, Sumagayan said the project will provide all-weather roads that would ensure effective transportation for the people, and agricultural inputs and outputs, significant for agricultural development, easy access to basic social and health facilities which are mostly located here and provide them an alternative route to the Cotabato City-Davao City Road.

The Tamontaka-Tapian Road provides an easier entrance to beach resorts which are major recreation spots for residents of Cotabato City and neighboring municipalities in Maguindanao.

Sumagayan also enumerated other roads that need repair in the region. These include the Iligan-Marawi Road, Davao-Cotabato Road, Kidapawan- Ala Road, Bito-Marawi Road, Sultan Kudarat Border-Butig-Lumbayanague Road, Cotabato-General Santos Road, Maganoy-Sultan sa Barongis Road, Limbo-Pinaring-Manuangan Road, and the Datu Saudi Ampatuan Road.

The Road Network Development Master Plan for ARMM envisions development in agro-fishery and poverty reduction, smooth mobility and universal development of all areas which contribute to peace building in the autonomous region, Sumagayan said