Marawi mayor leads inauguration of new diversion road

By Masiding Noor Yahya

May 10, 2019

MARAWI CITY: City mayor Majul U. Gandamra led the inauguration of a new diversion road in Sagonsongan village here on Wednesday to ease traffic congestion that had been growing in Marawi in the past couple of months.

Traffic jam along the highway connecting Saguiaran municipality in the north and Marawi in the south had been getting heavier following the return of its residents to the city after the Marawi siege almost two years ago, according to Philippine Information Agency (PIA), a government media.

The state media also said the diversion road will also ease the mobility and delivery of goods and materials for Marawi's rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery of the war-torn city.

“Since dalawa na ang kalsada na magagamit, iyong mga pumasok na non-government organizations at government agencies ay may choice kung sa main road o diversion dadaan (Since there are two roads that can be used, those non-government organizations and government agencies will have choices on where to enter, main road or diversion. This will aid in the entry of the materials needed for the rehabilitation),” PIA quoted Task Force Bangon Marawi Field Office Manager and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Assistant Secretary Felix Castro Jr. as saying.

Castro also said that the diversion road would speed up the transport of materials, goods, and services that will contribute to the city’s economic activities.

Aside from Gandamra and Castro, also present during the inauguration were Lanao del Sur Vice Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong Jr., National Housing Authority–Marawi Project Management Office Director Rhoderick Ibañez, and 103rd Brigade commander Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., among others.

The project has long been implemented but faced delays due to some problems with land claimants. However, with the help from the city government and Lanao del Sur provincial government, they were able to get the landowner’s consent for the project to continue.

Meanwhile, Marawi City Traffic Chief Revie Sani explained that the diversion road would operate as a one-way road for now until the widening of its shoulders is finished.

Sani said the diversion will be opened but on a one-way lane for motorists only going out of the city until the widening is completed.

(With a story from PIA-ICCC/RSP)