ARMM to turn Mamasapano battle footbridge into concrete bridge of peace
 |
DBM secretary Florencio B. Abad (4th from left), ARMM
Governor
Mujiv S. Hataman (2nd from right),
AFP Chief of
Staff Gen. Ricardo
Catapang (3rd from right), MILF
spokesman
Von ul Haq (3rd from
left),
ARMM executive secretary
Laysa
Alamia and other dignitaries
lead
the
groundbreaking rites
for the P7.5-million access road and
the
P10
mil
lion
steel
bridge in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano,
Maguindanao on
March 31.
MNY
|
Mamasapano, Maguindanao
March 31, 2015
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is set to replace the wooden footbridge found in Barangay Tukanalipao here -- the site of the 25 January Mamasapano incident -- with a steel one and build an 880 meters access road connecting it to the main highway to facilitate the movement of people and agricultural products in the area.
The groundbreaking rites for the P7.5-million access road and the 120 meters, P10-million steel bridge held on Tuesday brought together officials from the government, military, business sector and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), lending credence to the bridge project’s moniker “bridge of peace”.
ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the infrastructure projects should help residents overcome the scars left by the January 25 incident and facilitate the agricultural development of Mamasapano. .
He also announced the realignment of at least P10-million worth of livelihood projects under ARMM’s Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance, and Synergy (HELPS) project to Barangay Tukanalipao that is being worked out with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
ARMM will invest around P77-million in various infrastructure projects to help address the development needs of identified communities in Mamasapano.
Aside from the steel bridge and access road, the region’s Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will also put up nine school buildings and eight water and sanitation facilities.
Von Al-Haq, spokesman of MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, welcomed the rehabilitation of the bridge and the other development projects of the ARMM.
He said the MILF is a “pro-development organization” and they welcome projects designed to improve conditions in the Bangsamoro areas
For his part, General Gregorio Pio Catapang, AFP chief of staff, said: “Wala ng all-out offensive. Pauwiin na natin ang ating mga kababayan sa kanilang mga tahanan. Ibuhos natin ang proyekto sa Maguindanao at karatig pook. Let us move on at paunlarin natin ang ating bayan, magkaroon tayo ng kapayapaan.” (See related story)
(With story from the Bureau of Public Information)
