AROUND P39 billion was allocated for the 42 inter-regional projects under the Mindanao Development Corridors Joint Planning and Programming (MinDC-JPP).

During the Habi at Kape media forum Wednesday, March 13, MinDC-JPP team, composed of the inter-agency convergence of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), National Economic Development Authority (Neda), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its regional offices bared the infrastructure projects which will be the focus of this year.

Project Development Division head Joan Barrera told reporters that as of November 2018, the estimated budget cost will be for the 32 road projects, six bridges, and four flood controls.

“Most of these projects are inter-regional road projects that connect two regions, from Caraga Region to Socsksargen. We hope to complete this project because our timeline is 2022,” Barrera said.

In the data provided by the MinDC-JPP team, the road project has a total project length of 1,267 kilometers and as of the moment 437 kilometers has been completed construction. Bridge project has 118.5 kilometers of total project length and no construction was made yet. Flood control projects have a total project length of 4,715 kilometers but have constructed more than the planned length with 6,519 kilometers constructed.

Following the agreement of the previous MinDC-JPP session last February 26 to 28 this year, the team inspected and monitored the Cotabato-Pagadian-Zamboanga del Sur roads and Zamboanga del Sur coastal roads traversing a 172-kilometer stretch and which covers eight municipalities.

Meanwhile, Development Management officer Katherine Zenith Geldore also explained that the infrastructure projects they are pushing now is under the strategy of MinDC.

“Mindanao Development Corridor is MinDA’s spatial strategy towards achieving the peace and development framework plan for Mindanao. It is our translation of plans into the implementation of Mindanao-wide and inter-regional programs and projects.

She added that MinDC aimed for inter-regional connectivity of growth centers among regions in Mindanao to become globally-competitive.