MARAWI CITY, Jan 22 (PIA) -- The Regional Economic and Planning Development Board
of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday deferred
discussion on the region’s P1.51 billion infrastructure program for
2013 during its first regular session this year, pending
result of a motion to have some scheduled road projects realigned.
The motion calls for the endorsement of a board resolution urging the
central office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to allow ARMM to
concentrate on local road projects after it found out that most
national roads in the region are already included in the national road
network development plan.
A similar request will also be endorsed to the Regional Legislative Assembly
(RLA), the region's legislative counterpart.
The P1.51-billion 2013 infrastructure plan of the region consists mostly of road
projects. At least 21 of the scheduled road projects in the region for 2012 had to be realigned
by DPWH-ARMM due to double funding and to coincide with the region’s convergence plan.
The realignment plan awaits the approval of the RLA.
ARMM OIC-Governor Mujiv Hataman said DPWH national had included most
of the national roads found in ARMM in its annual road program, thus the double funding.
He said the region would be able to optimize the annual infrastructure fund by focusing
on local roads.
Hataman said that it is crucial for the region to sort out its road map immediately to
present a clear-cut data on road development gaps.
“We need to be able pinpoint exactly which roads are unpaved and in need of development,”
he said.
RedPB is ARRM's highest policy-making body chaired by the regional governor and consists of the governors of ARMM's five component provinces, mayors of its two cities, head of some of the region's planning office and a representative from civil society. (armmcommgroup/PIA10)
No comments