P1.3-B allotment for road projects in 63 NorCot villages

COTABATO CITY  ---  The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has set aside P1.3-billion worth of roads for 63 villages in North Cotabato that now form part of the fledging region.

This was revealed last February 24 by Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, head of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG-BARMM) and regional spokesperson.

“This year alone, we have prepared about P1.3-B fund to build modern road networks in the 63 villages of North Cotabato,” he said after meeting with some of the local officials from the 63 barangays. 

Sinarimbo said his office is currently working with the BARMM’s Ministry of Public Works and Highways (MPWH) in preparing the master plan for a modern road network for the 63 villages.

He added the funds will come from the P63.6-B annual block grant for the region this year.

“We are now focused on planning and implementing projects because we are assured of annual block grant unlike in the past where the regional government had to beg for funds from the national government,” he said in the vernacular.

Sinarimbo said building better and modern road networks is part of good governance the BARMM leadership is pushing for the fast development of the region.

The BARMM, which replaced the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi; the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, and Lamitan; and the 63 villages from six towns in North Cotabato province. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA - COTABATO, MINDANAO EXPOSE')