PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines – At least 65 high-impact infrastructure projects, with an aggregate cost of close to P2 billion, are being undertaken this year by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in various parts of Western Mindanao.

DPWH Region 9 Director Jorge Sebastian said that of the 65 projects, mostly focused on road construction, 13 were recently completed, 25 are on-going, and 27 are under the pre-construction stage.

Sebastian noted that construction, repair and rehabilitation of national highways and farm-to-market roads in the Muslim-Christian region have been prioritized by Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson in consonance with President Aquino’s socio-economic development program in rural communities.

The upgrading of national and farm-to-market roads and bridges, Sebastian said, is also designed to improve the peace and order condition in the region even as it will increase mobility of people and farm products, thereby benefiting village farmers.

Sebastian also announced that the DPWH regional office recently proposed an initial funding of P340 million for the construction of a Zamboanga City by-pass road project that will link the city’s east coast village of Culianan to the west coast villages of Ayala and Recodo where most of the city’s industrial and commercial establishments, including the Zamboanga Eco-Zone and canned fish manufacturing companies, are located.

The by-pass road, a project jointly initiated by 1st District Rep. Erbie Fabian and 2nd District Rep. Ma. Isabelle Climaco, will also serve as an alternative route for vehicles bound for the west from east coast or vice versa without anymore passing through the city proper, Sebastian said.

In a related development, Zamboanga del Sur 3rd Engineering District Engineer Manuel Inoferio reported that the construction of two newly reclassified secondary roads in the province is almost one-third completed.