The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is continuously working to complete by June 2022 its ongoing Puntian-Arakan Road project that aims to improve access between the regions of Central and Northern Mindanao.
Secretary Roger G. Mercado said that the project, which is implemented by DPWH Regional Office 12, is a P830.87-million multi-year endeavor to provide an alternative connecting route for Regions 10 and 12 by linking Bukidnon’s Kibawe town to the municipality of Arakan in Cotabato.
Based on reports from Regional Director Basir M. Ibrahim, Secretary Mercado explained that the present works being conducted are for the project’s remaining 1.12-kilometer section worth P110-million, funded through Fiscal Year 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Secretary Mercado commends DPWH Regional Office 12 for efficiently overseeing the remainder of the project and even exceeding its planned accomplishment rate for 2021 despite many challenges, recording a total accomplishment rate of 91.8 percent as of December 2021.
The Puntian-Arakan Road has an actual length of 23.6 kilometers, including two (2) bridges with combined length of 90 meters, and a slope protection that spans 2,381 square meters.
According to Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, in-charge of Regional Operations, civil works including road opening, road concreting, and construction of concrete bridges as well as protective structures were started in 2016.
Portions of Puntian-Arakan Road have been opened and are already utilized by locals from the communities it passes through.
“We are ensuring that the road is going to be completed in order to provide unhampered movement of goods and services as well as the delivery of government and private initiative extension programs for Mindanaoans,” Secretary Mercado said.