ROAD projects being implemented in Mindanao are closely watched as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated her orders that the island should have a completed road network before her term ends.

In his report, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Davao Region director Osop Ali showed that road projects promised by the President in her State of the Nation Addresses (Sona) are already 95.43 percent complete.

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Two of the biggest Sona projects in the region are the 57-kilometer long concrete road which traverses from Kapalong, Davao del Norte to Valencia, Bukidnon and the 87-kilometer Surigao del Sur-Davao Oriental Coastal Road.

Both projects aim to jumpstart economic activity in those areas.

A total of P2.8 billion had been spent by the DPWH-Southern Mindanao for the first half of the year on the two projects alone, with P1.5 billion for the Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia highway and P1.3 billion for the Surigao-Davao Oriental coastal road.

A total of P3.3 billion had already been spent on the two projects since these were started in 2007.

"Other road projects which were implemented as part of the pump priming projects is already 87.9 percent complete," Ali said.

DPWH officer in charge Victor Domingo was told by the President that she wants to complete the road projects in order to enhance the economic activities of the island which in effect will expedite the peace process.