GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/6 Oct) – The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region 12 will gather the region’s stakeholders here next week for a summit on the area’s road networks and related infrastructure.
City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, RDC 12 chairperson, said the road summit will mainly focus on discussions regarding the present state of the region’s road networks and systems as well as strategies that would address various problems, issues and concerns about the matter.
She said they have invited local government leaders, officials and representatives of national line agencies and departments, construction industry players and various sectoral leaders in the region to attend the summit, which is slated on Oct. 12.
Also known as the Soccsksargen Region, Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
“Through the summit, we expect to come up with an inventory of our national highways and determine the status of the implementation of government-funded road projects within the region,” Custodio said.
The mayor said they would also establish the list of priority road projects in the region that are due for conversion into national roads and set action plans for them.
According to the website of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), it has completed 55 roads, bridges and related infrastructure projects as of last August 31.[]
It said 46 more projects are presently undergoing construction, either by DPWH district engineering offices or by private construction companies, while eight others have not yet started.
Among the ongoing major road projects in the region are the P1.1-billion General Santos City circumferential road; P1.[]
