The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing to tap financing and technical support from World Bank for its proposed infrastructure development plan for greater Metropolitan Sulu.
Emil Sadain, DPWH undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) operations, said the World Bank has expressed interest to provide funding support to DPWH-proposed infrastructure projects in Sulu aimed at reviving the status of the province of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as a main economic and trade hub not only for Mindanao but for the Philippines.
Sadain and Dr. Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei, recently discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation on planned developmental projects specifically roads and bridges; water supply system; sanitation development; and urban renewal at coastal communities.
The World Bank executive reaffirmed the Bank’s support to DPWH initiatives that will address Sulu’s need for clean water and proper sanitation, opportunity to improve transportation facilities that will also benefit delivery of agricultural products, development and promotion of various heritage and tourism potentials, building of sustainable communities and eventual decline of armed conflict due to available and improved economic opportunities.
Pursuant to Section 37 Article 13 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, DPWH is committed to bringing development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region specifically in the construction and maintenance of national roads and bridges, water supply services, and flood control and irrigation system.
“By coming up with several infra projects, community-driven development and social services, the aspirations of the people of Sulu who have suffered from decades of conflict and underdevelopment will be addressed with positive change in terms of employment and opportunities to escape poverty”, said Sadain.
Proposed DPWH – World Bank partnership for Sulu has the following scope of activities:
preparation of detailed engineering design, conduct of civil works, for the 161-kilometer Sulu Circumferential and 77-kilometer Transcentral roads, and additional 42-kilometer loop roads; construction supervision for Urban Renewal Program at Coastal Communities; Sulu Mainland Water Supply project and construction of Jolo sanitation development program. – Myla Iglesias
