[ Manila Bulletin Online ] April 29, 2008
By ALI G. MACABALANG
MARAWI CITY — Concerned local government units (LGUs) met here on Thursday for the preparation for the implementation of the P770-million concreting works on the Lake Lanao circumferential road, even as private sectors joined a body tasked to monitor the much-awaited project.
The meeting was hosted at the provincial capitol complex here by Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal "Bombit" Alonto-Adiong Jr. and presided over by Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO).
Leyretana swore in the 20 mayors of towns cut across by the Lake Lanao circumferential road and some representatives of private sectors as members of the Infrastructure Monitoring and Advisory Group (IMAG), which will oversee the implementation of the Saudi government-funded project.
The IMAG is chaired by Adiong, a civil engineer by profession.
Retired DPWH undersecretary Mokamad Rakiin, incumbent provincial administrator, is vice chairman.
In their messages, Leyretana and Adiong underscored the importance of the road concreting project in the vision of the present provincial administration to spur socio-economic activities in Lanao del Sur, a component of the 19-year-old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Public Works Undersecretary for Mindanao Rafael Yabut and DPWH-ARMM Undersecretary Guialoson Mamogkat attended the meeting and briefed participants on the technical progress of the project, which Adiong followed up for revival this year.
Higher authorities stalled the project due to past local leaders’ neglect.
Adiong, in an interview after the meeting, said the DPWH had sought an authority from the Saudi government to start the bidding process this Aug. 11 and commence the full project implementation on Oct. 11 this year.
The Saudi government is the source of the R770-M fund earmarked for the concreting of 91.8 kilometers of road along Lake Lanao, the country’s second largest body of fresh water and Mindanao main source of hydroelectricity.
An initial sum of R35 million from the project cost is set for release next week for the speedy repair of "badly-damaged" portions of the circumferential road, Adiong said.
Also on Thursday, Leyretana, Adiong, Yabut and Mamogkat inaugurated the fresh arrival of brand new giant backhoes and other heavy equipment, which form part of the second shipment in a fleet of engineering machines bought by the provincial government through R200-million government loan.
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