THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) is tracking 1,267 kilometers (kms) of roads and 118 kms of bridges programmed to improve connectivity within the Mindanao regions. These infrastructure will provide links to remote and agricultural areas as well as serve as alternate routes to the existing main road network. Assistant Secretary Romeo M. Montenegro, MinDA deputy executive director, said these projects are part of the national government’s 2017-2022 public investment program on infrastructure, where Mindanao has a P761 billion allocation. “The priority projects that had been identified at the national scale, we want to see much of this moving on a desired trajectory and desired timeline,” he said at the Habi at Kape forum last week. Among the big ticket projects identified for Mindanao is the 102-km Tagum-Davao-Digos line of the 1,550-km Mindanao Railway Project, which has yet to be started. Mr. Montenegro said they are optimistic that these will be fast-tracked based on the national government’s “catch-up” plan following the delay in the enactment of this year’s budget as well as the project ban during the election period. Mr. Montenegro also said they are optimistic of the continued implementation of MinDA’s programs and advocacies under its new head, Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol. “Time is not on our side and we are left with half of the (term of the current) administration, and our window to get what we desired for Midanao is closing,” he said. “That is why we have to work hand-in-hand with all other agencies of the government to make sure that the implementation of these projects are pursued on time and within budget,” he added. — Maya Padillo

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