Barmm opens 'friendship routes'

THE Ministry of Transportation and Communication in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOTC-Barmm) opened Wednesday, February 23, the new "friendship routes" or the inter-regional routes.

The friendship routes are as follows: Laguindingan Airport Terminal, Misamis Oriental-Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; Iligan City, Lanao del Norte-Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; Davao City, Davao del Sur-Marawi City, Lanao del Sur via Kalilangan, Iligan City and Talakag, Bukidnon; Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur-Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; and General Santos City-Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte via Cotabato.

MOTC Secretary Dickson Hermoso said the opening of the friendship routes came after a series of meetings between Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Central Office and MOTC to address concerns pertaining to the identification of inter-regional routes in its neighbor regions that require urgent opening.

Hermoso said the opening of new friendship routes aims to help the displaced families return to Marawi City, boost the economic, commercial activity and rehabilitation of the area by promoting connectivity between neighboring regions.

The inter-regional routes operating in Barmm consist of 27 public utility jeepneys (PUJs) for Iligan City-Marawi City, which was awarded to MSU-Marawi Iligan Transport Services Corporation; 15 public utility buses (PUBs) for Davao City-Marawi City via Kalilangan, Iligan City, and Talakag, Bukidnon awarded to Mindanao Star Bus Transport Incorporated; and 15 PUBs for General Santos City-Dipolog City awarded to Cotabato of Rural Transit Mindanao Inc.

"The launching of the friendship routes to and from Marawi is a concrete manifestation of the seriousness of our commitment to helping in Marawi's rehabilitation," said Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim in a statement.

"The friendship routes will bring back normalcy and stimulate commerce, something in which our brothers and sisters in Marawi excel," Ebrahim added.

Hermoso said that Barmm has many more steps for the continuous development of the autonomous region.

"Barmm is doing a lot now through its ministries with the legislators so that we can boost and cultivate [socio-economic aspect] and this includes the launching of inter-regional routes that have been opened here in Marawi," Hermoso said.

Lawyer Martin Delgra III, LTFRB chairperson, said they will continue to serve the people, particularly in providing convenient transportation.

"Our enthusiasm at the first day of this administration [July 01, 2016] has the same level of enthusiasm to move forward on the fundamental change in the country particularly in Mindanao, and much more particularly as shown by what is being done here after the Marawi siege. We continue to do the work that we need to bring about peace and development in this place," Delgra said.

"These inter-regional routes will help Marawi rehabilitation, it can boost tourism and economic potential, and [also] in terms of delivering products outside and inside the City," said lawyer Majul Gandarma, mayor of Marawi City. (SunStar Zamboanga)