The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that the construction of the Curuan-Sibuco Road linking Zamboanga City to Zamboanga del Norte has reached 82% completion as of May 25.
The project is designed to enhance the road network of the Mindanaoan region. The ongoing 33-kilometer road is a core project which is part of the larger Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) financed by a loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
In an inspection report to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain informed him that the ADB-funded project’s concrete cement paving is nearly finished.
The Curuan-Sibuco Road was awarded to the winning bidders in 2020 and received a price tag of ₱1.9 billion. It was included in the total budget allocated for the IGCMRSP worth ₱25.2 billion.
“Progress of this road project with two (2) bridges namely Curuan and Sibuco and under contract with Sino Road and Bridge Group Company Ltd. and M. Abubakar Construction and Engineering Inc. is already at 82 percent having completed the portland concrete cement paving of 30.80 kilometers,” reported Senior Undersecretary Sadain.
Improving the Transportation Infrastructure of Mindanao
The Curuan-Sibuco Road is one of the numerous infrastructure projects included in the IGCMRSP. In July 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of three (3) core projects completed by the UPMO-RMC II under then Project Director Sharif Madsmo Hasim. These projects are the Alicia-Malangas Road and Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road in Zamboanga Sibugay and the Tampilisan-Sandayong Road in Zamboanga del Norte.
DPWH has begun increasing hands-on monitoring and supervision of projects in the Mindanao region to ensure that the projects will continue their course smoothly and efficiently. Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain visited the working site of the Curuan-Sibuco Road on May 24 together with ADB Principal Country Specialist Alain Morel, Unified Project Management Office – Roads Management Cluster 2 (UPMO-RMC II) OIC Project Director Teresita V. Bauzon, Stakeholders Relations Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario, UPMO RMC II Project Managers Emmanuel Supe and Olivia Baguio, and the project management consultants.
During the visit to the Curuan-Sibuco Road project site, Senior Undersecretary Sadain also delivered instructions to help maintain the constant progress of the sub-projects under the IGCMRSP. These sub-projects include:
- 1.21-kilometer Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay
- 24-kilometer R.T. Lim – Siocon Road with eight (8) bridges connecting Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga Del Norte
- 17.93-kilometer Siay-Gapol Road in Zamboanga Sibugay
- 7.38-kilometer Gutalac-Baliguian Alternative Road in Zamboanga Del Norte
- 541-meter Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge (Tawi-Tawi Province)
- 690-meter Malassa-Lupa Pula Bridge (Tawi-Tawi Province)
- 569-meter Tongsinah-Paniongan Bridge (Tawi-Tawi Province)
References
DPWH. (n.d.). Road Connecting Zamboanga City to Zamboanga del Norte Now 82% Completed. DPWH. Retrieved May 27, 2024, from https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/DPWH/news/33765
https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/sites/default/files/webform/civil_works/contract_of_agreement/19Z00013%20CA.pdf. (n.d.). Contact Agreement. DPWH. Retrieved May 27, 2024, from https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/sites/default/files/webform/civil_works/contract_of_agreement/19Z00013%20CA.pdf
Inquirer.net. (n.d.). Bongbong Marcos inaugurates P25.2-B Zamboanga Peninsula road project. Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 27, 2024, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1805071/bongbong-marcos-inaugurates-p25-2-b-mindanao-road-project
