COTABATO CITY —Road connectivity in Lanao del Sur will now be enhanced with the newly-completed Maalungon bridge in Butig Municipality.
Turned over on April 14, the pre-stressed bridge has a total capacity of 25 tons and measures 25 meters in length. It is worth P38-million, funded by the Ministry of Public Works through the General Appropriation Act 2019.
As clarified by the project implementer, appropriation for a project like a bridge varies accordingly depending on the geophysical location and characteristic of the site. As explained, construction of the bridge involved pile driving (installation of steel H-pile) to reinforce the foundation due to unfavorable soil type on the site. On top of this, the design also included 80 meters road approach on both sides and slope protection. These alone already covered a big chunk of the 38M appropriation of the project.
“Nakakataba ng puso na andito tayo ngayon upang pag-usapan ang development,” MPW Deputy Minister Engr. Abdul Maomit Tomawis said during the turn over ceremony.
“Nasanay tayo na pag pumupunta tayo sa mga remote municipalities ay mayroong mga problema na pinag-uusapan,” he said.
Tomawis said that the bridge is one of the vital projects of the regional government.
“Isa tayo sa mga dumadaan diyan at minsan nahihirapan tayong makadaan lalo na pag malakas ang ulan,” he shared.
Mando Dumato Panolong, a community leader in Butig thanked the Bangsamoro Government for the infrastructure project.
“This bridge will not only enhance road connectivity between Butig and nearby municipalities, it will also improve economic situation in our municipality,” he said in vernacular.
Meanwhile, Provincial Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong Jr said that the bridge shall be used by commuters of the province who will be passing by the soon-to-be completed Butig-Barira Road going to the cities of Cotabato, Davao, and General Santos.
“Huwag na kayong magulat kung bigla na lang darating ang bisita dahil may daan na tayo,” Adiong said.
The project was formally accepted by Butig Mayor Atty. Dimnatang BL Pansar, who said “it is with great honor to accept the recently completed bridge on behalf of the good people of Butig, and (we are) looking forward for more development project.”
Dignitaries to the event included Deputy Chief Minister Aleem Ali Solaiman, Lanao 2nd District Engineer Maldamin Decampong, 103rd Infantry Brigade Commander BGen. Jose Maria Cuerpo III, among others. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
