BUTUAN CITY – Economic boom is expected to continue as a P1.4 billion road network and bridge project is on its way in Northern Mindanao region.

The four-lane road network will be from Barangay Igpit, Opol town in Misamis Oriental up to Barangay Puerto, traversing Barangay Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City.

The project is under the flagship program of President Arroyo and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Victor Domingo.

Early this week, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and top regional, provincial and city officials of DPWH led by Regional Director Jerome de la Rosa led the capsule laying and groundbreaking of the said project at Lapasan of that same city.

“This project will definitely solve our traffic problem in the national highway in going to Iligan City, Bukidnon and Butuan City,” De la Rosa said.

After completion, economic boom will continue in Cagayan de Oro City, one of the fastest growing cities in the country today, also said Rodriguez.

The project will be completed next year, De la Rosa and Rodriguez added.

Meanwhile, the DPWH Region 10 office also reported that the P1.5 billion Bukidnon-Talaingod (Davao del Norte) Road Section is in its final stage for completion before the end of this year or early next year.

On the other hand, Caraga Region DPWH Director Evelyn T. Barroso also reported that the P1.7 billion remaining packages of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road Section is in full swing and also set to hit its time line in 2010.

Five packages of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road were already completed, ahead of schedule, added Barroso. (Mike U. Crismundo and Gerry L. Gorit)