ZAMBOANGA CITY—Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) chairman, announced that the completion of infrastructure development projects under the Mindanao Super Region is underway.

Leyretana said various line agencies of the government are speeding up efforts to monitor and address major implementation bottlenecks in undertaking the infrastructure projects.

Leyretana said the recent report of the Department of Public Works and Highways indicated that 32 percent of several priority infrastructure projects under the Mindanao Super Region are nearing completion.

The first set of infrastructure project to be completed this year is the Dinagat Island Road Network project, which involves the improvement of a 15-km road in Surigao del Norte.

The road project, which began construction in October 2006, is 65.57-percent complete, according to Leyretana.

He said that the construction works for the three other major road projects such as the Zamboanga West Coast Road, Awang-Upi-Kalamansig-Lebak Road and Surigao-Davao Coastal Road are ongoing and will be seen completed next year as scheduled.

He said the improvement of the Zamboanga West Coast Road is currently 18.56-percent complete, way ahead of its schedule by 3 percent.

The project, which has a total length of 117.3 km, will connect the coastal municipalities of Sibuco, Sirawai, Siocon, Baliguian in Zamboanga del Norte and Gutalac, Zamboanga del Sur.

The P5.8-billion Surigao-Davao Coastal Road connecting the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental is also 39.21-percent finished.

Leyretana, meanwhile, announced the 87.6-km Awang-Upi-Kalamansig-Lebak Road in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat will soon take off after bidding proposals for its improvement and rehabilitation were deliberated November last year.

Along with road construction, Super Region airport development projects such as the improvement of airport facilities and extension of runway for the Butuan, Cotabato, Dipolog, Ozamiz, Pagadian and Zamboanga airports are ongoing and expected to be completed this year.

Leyretana said the rehabilitation work for the Zamboanga International Airport, which includes the improvement of the existing terminal building and installation of a baggage conveyor system at the arrival area, will also kick off this month until May.

The runway extension of the P306-million Butuan Airport Development Project is now 52.54-percent complete. This project started October last year and will be completed in May as scheduled.

Improvement of the airport’s air-navigation facilities, as well as other runway rehabilitation works, is currently at its mobilization stage.

Accomplishment of the P25-million asphalt overlay project for the Cotabato airport runway is also running at 11.5 percent. A taxiway project at the airport will also start soon.

Likewise, main civil works for the construction of Laguindingan Airport will start early this year.

Leyretana said the completion of power and transmission projects is also under way as shown by reports submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Due for completion by 2009 are the Abaga-Kirahon and Maramag-Bunawan 230-kilovolt (KV) backbone transmission projects, which are currently working for the acquisition of the right of way for the tower sites and stringing section.

Leyretana said the DOE also reported that 91 percent, or 9,140 barangays in Mindanao have been energized.

To achieve full electrification in Mindanao by 2009, a total of 898 barangays are still to be provided with electricity, he added.

Two of the major port projects under the Mindanao, Super Region are also nearing completion.

Leyretana said the construction of backup area for the newly constructed wharf of the Cagayan de Oro Port is 85.15-percent complete, while port expansion for the Davao Port is 72.10-percent complete based on the report of the Philippine Ports Authority.

Leyretana urged the implementing agencies under the Mindanao Super Region Team to regularly check their timelines and ensure that implementation targets will be met.

DAVAO CITY—The National Transmission Corp. (Transco) here believes that the completion of the P3-billion transmission project connecting Maramag in Bukidnon to Bunawan in Davao City will ease the anxiety of a supposed power crisis in this southern Philippine island in a couple of years.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to undertake a survey of irrigated lands that were converted into nonagricultural uses all over the Philippines.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) chairman, announced that the completion of infrastructure development projects under the Mindanao Super Region is underway.

CEBU CITY—The Port of Cebu is confident the volume of imports would pick up in 2008 to compensate for the declining value of the dollar and the stoppage of operations of one of its biggest importer in late 2007.

LEGAZPI CITY—The government will jump-start and complete this year mobilization activities for the rehabilitation program of the Bicol River Basin (BRB) as it awaits approval by the World Bank (WB) of the proposed P3.3-billion funding assistance.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Total investments in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone now stand at $5.43 billion after 164 new business locators committed $1.668 billion worth of investment projects last year.