Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, along with other Bangsamoro Government officials, led on Nov. 23 the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Libungan Toreta-Kabuntalan Bridge which will connect BARMM’s Special Geographic Area to the province of Maguindanao del Norte. (Benyamen Cabuntalan/BIO)
COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Government made a historic move to enhance the connectivity and economic development in the towns of Pahamudin in Special Geographic Area (SGA) and Kabuntalan in Maguindanao del Norte by constructing a 150-meter-long bridge connecting the two municipalities.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and Ministry of Public Works (MPW) Minister Archt. Eduard Guerra led on Nov. 23 the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the bridge named the “Libungan Toreta – Kabuntalan Bridge”.
Other key officials also in attendance were MPW Deputy Minister Abdul Maomit Tomawis, Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua, and Northern Kabuntalan Mayor Datu Ramil Dilangalen.
With a budget fund of P180-million, MPW is expected to complete the bridge by the first quarter of 2025.
The bridge stands as a symbol of Bangsamoro Government’s commitment to stimulate economic activities in the region as it will bind communities together, facilitate trade, reduce travel time, and enhance transportation.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim underscored that the bridge is more than just an ordinary infrastructure project. He said it will also serve as an avenue to provide jobs and strengthen the livelihood of the constituents until the next generations.
“Ang tulay na ito ay magbubuhos ng mga oportunidad tungo sa pag-unlad ng pamumuhay ng bawat Bangsamoro sa mga lugar na makikinabang dito,” Ebrahim said.
[This bridge will open up so many opportunities towards the development of the lives of every Bangsamoro in the areas that will benefit from it.]
The chief minister also highlighted that the bridge signifies peace and progress as the area has previously been a battlefield where members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines fought with the Moro army.
Minister Guerra, on the other hand, shared that the Pahamudin town in SGA has a P1.4-billion infrastructure project budget for fiscal years 2020-2024, which were distributed to its 12 barangays.
“Nakapila pulo lagon e dalpa anya na dala melay nengka kalsada siya, nyapon ba timpo na BARMM banya. Inn Shaa Allah sus’ken tanu e dalpa anya sa kalsada,” Guerra said in Maguindanaon.
[Many years have gone by but there were no concreted roads in this area, only now under the governance of BARMM. In God’s will, we will construct more roads in this area.]
BARMM Government’s enhanced 12-point priority agenda for 2023-2025 includes developing a system of reliable and resilient infrastructure for land, sea, and air transportation that will spur economic growth in the region. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
