Peace pact with Moro rebels urged to roll out projects in Mindanao

MANILA -- Only through the signing of a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) can the government implement more effectively socio-economic projects in Mindanao, an administration lawmaker said.

Also, the signing of the peace agreement will help solve delays in the implementation of infrastructure projects and hasten government's efforts to boost and upgrade agricultural, tourism and commercial infrastructure in Mindanao, said Senator Franklin Drilon.

Among the country's poorest provinces are located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) as armed conflicts caused delays in the implementation of critical infrastructure projects necessary to provide basic services.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said his agency has been facing problems in implementing key infrastructure projects in the region because of peace and order problems.

"Remember the President has authorized us some P2.8 billion worth of infrastructure projects for Armm alone, but we have been facing problems in terms of security, revolutionary tax and so on. With a good peace and order situation, we can implement more projects in the area," Singson said in a hearing on Monday.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has a proposed budget of P165.6 billion for 2013. Of this amount, P43.72 billion or 26.4 percent will go to Mindanao to ramp up the construction of roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)