Road project shortens travel time in Maguindanao

Opens economy in communities along Liguasan Marsh

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Thursday 17th of May 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, May 17 (PIA) -- Farmers and fisherfolks in Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao used to spend more than one hour to bring their produce to Buluan town. Travel time, according to a resident, was much longer during rainy days.

But with the upgraded Buluan-Pandag-Paglat-GSK Pendatun section of the provincial road, traveling from SK Pendatun to Buluan now takes only about 20 minutes.

Yesterday, the United States government turned over the completed 15.3-km two-lane, all-weather road project to the provincial government and the municipal governments of Buluan, Pandag, Paglat, and SK Pendatun, municipalities along the fringes of the Liguasan Marsh.

The US government was represented by the US Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett and Acting Mission Director Reed Aeschliman of the USAID.

They handed the project completion documents to Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadato at the inauguration ceremony at the Pandag municipal gym around noon yesterday, following the Maguindanao Infrastructure Development Forum at Buluan municipal gym in the morning.

MinDA chair Secretary Luwalhati Antonino was also present during the ceremony.

Information from USAID-Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program (USAID-GEM) indicated that the road project was built with a grant of P90.6 million ($2.1 million) for the US government.

Mangudadatu said the provincial government’s counterpart to the project amounted to P31 million.

Construction was started in November 2010 and completed April 2012.

Besides ease and efficiency in travel in area, USAID-GEM also observed an increase in the number of vehicles plying the area to transport farm and fish products from remote communities along the marsh.

There was also an increase in the number of traders, and business establishments along the road.

Going to school has also become easier for schoolchildren.

An estimated 87,000 residents in 38 barangays will benefit from the project.

“I salute the Mindanao Development Authority as well as our development partners and the US government who have made this project a success,” Gov. Mangudadatu said, “No amount of words can exactly express the thanks of the Maguindanao provincial government and all its residents.”

The project, he added, will mean additional income for the families, as well as better economic opportunities for the locals.

“We will join efforts with (Maguindanao 2nd District) Congressman Simeon Datumanong for the conversion of this road into a national secondary road to support the efficiency of its usage in the future,” he added.

The governor also said he hopes, “the completion of the project would entice more projects with MinDA and other development partners and win back trust for Maguindanao.”

To the US Government, USAID-GEM and MinDA officials, Mangudadatu said, “I assure you, we are prepared to fulfill the desires of partner donors as well as to manage these projects.”

Leslie Bassett, on her part, praised the government leaders for their commitment to the project, and for helping to foster peace and development in this conflict-affected area of Mindanao.

“The project is a very important partnership between the local government, the national government, and the US government to make road and make peace,” she said.

This, she added, should, “provide the most remote barangays (of Maguindanao) the much needed access to markets, commercial centers, schools, hospitals, and others.”

“The province of Maguindanao is an area of tremendous promise, she pointed out, “but only if conflict can be addressed through projects like this road that will hopefully open the communities to greater understanding and allow for progress.”

“This is the kind of projects that the US government hopes to support,” she said.

The visiting officials later traveled to Tumbao, in the municipality of Mangudadatu, where the US government turned over a boat landing on Lake Buluan completed in partnership with the municipality. The landing facility will help tensure regular water transport services for residents.

To date, the USG, in partnership with the local governments, has built more than 1,450 infrastructure projects in Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas through USAID’s GEM Program under the oversight of MinDA. These include larger-scale Regional Impact Projects, like the Buluan provincial road, designed to benefit people in multiple barangays or municipalities.

Bassett also met with a select group of young leaders who are alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs. Participants included those who studied abroad in the United States under State Department scholarships, and alumni of USAID’s Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders, which gave youth from Mindanao the opportunity to intern in the National Congress of the Philippines. (DED-PIA 12)