By Benjamin Cuaresma
ZAMBOANGA, Sibugay — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has successfully completed a crucial and highly anticipated road project in Zamboanga Sibugay Province, bringing significant advancements in agribusiness, ecotourism, and logistics to the island of Olutanga and the town of Alicia.
Under the leadership of Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, who oversees DPWH infrastructure flagship projects as part of the “Build Better More” program, the once arduous and treacherous journey due to a muddy road that persisted for decades is now a thing of the past. The construction of a concrete highway known as Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road has transformed the travel experience in the region.
The 29.7-kilometer Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road, one of the three core road projects under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-assisted Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP), has been successfully implemented and completed by DPWH through its Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) – Roads Management Cluster II (Multilateral).
This road serves as a game changer for the socio-economic growth and development of Alicia and Olutanga Island.
During an ocular inspection on July 7-8, 2023, Senior Undersecretary Sadain reported to Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan that the construction of the inter-island Guicam Bridge, which is a separate non-core component of IGCMRSP and is connected to the Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road, is now 43% completed. The target is to finish the bridge by 2024.
Spanning a total length of 1.21 kilometers, the Guicam Bridge will link Barangay Guicam in Alicia to Barangay Hula-Hula in Mabuhay, crossing the Canaliso Strait. It will serve as a vital transportation and economic connector between the three municipalities of Olutanga Island (Olutanga, Talusan, and Mabuhay) and the mainland municipality of Alicia, facilitating travel to other towns in Zamboanga Sibugay.
The long-term impact of this project will contribute to sustaining peace and security on the island, while also harnessing socio-economic opportunities and fostering growth in the communities.
Olutanga Island holds vast potential for tourism and agro-fishery, boasting an extensive coastline with beaches, snorkeling and diving sites, as well as the production of high-value aqua and fisheries products such as “Lapulapu” fish cage farming, dried fish-making, and the seaweed industry.
The IGCMRSP, which is financed with a budget of P25.257 billion, including a loan of P19.080 billion from the Asian Development Bank and P6.117 billion funded by the Government of the Philippines, consists of eight sub-projects. These include the paving of approximately 151.05 kilometers of roads with Portland concrete cement, and the construction of 31 bridges with a total length of 2,132.62 meters, all located in Zamboanga Peninsula. Additionally, three bridges with a total length of 1,790 lineal meters are being constructed in the island province of Tawi-Tawi.
Senior Undersecretary Sadain, accompanied by UPMO Project Directors Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim and Benjamin A. Bautista, Stakeholders Relations Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario, and Project Manager Emmanuel M. Supe, also inspected the completed 24-kilometer Alicia-Malangas Road with eight bridges, the 17.93-kilometer Siay-Gapol Road with two ongoing bridges in Zamboanga Sibugay Province, and the ongoing 24.52-kilometer R.T. Lim-Siocon Road with eight bridges connecting the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte.
Under the supervision of Project Director Hasim, DPWH UPMO – Roads Management Cluster II (Multilateral) has already completed 122.07 kilometers of paved roads, which accounts for 81% of the project, and 11 out of 34 bridges. By the end of December 2023, DPWH aims to increase the total length of paved roads to 143.12 kilometers and complete an additional eight bridges.
(ai/mnm)
