The construction of the P 3.4 billion road network that connects General Santos City to the municipalities of Surallah and T’boli in South Cotabato will be completed this year, 2021.
This was committed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Basir Ibrahim. Ibrahim said that the project is expected to be completed earlier this year as there is still unfinished portions on the 66.69 kilometer by-pass road at the border in GenSan and T’boli.
A total of 25.410 kms of the road project was upgraded and concreted during its initial phase from 2016 – 2018. The concreting of another 12.653 kms which was funded from 2019 to 2020 is still ongoing. Ibrahim also mentioned that about 95.20 percent of the project has already been completed.
The road project involves the concreting of a total of 66.69-km two-lane road, two bridges, line canal and provision of road safety facilities.
The General Santos City-Surallah-T’boli road network will shorten the travel time from Surallah to GenSan by half an hour and from Koronadal to GenSan by an hour. The regional director also said that the bypass road will help decongest traffic in the main route that passes along Koronadal City and the municipalities of Banga, Tupi and Polomolok in South Cotabato.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar has earlier directed the inclusion of the project as among top priorities for the area due to its projected benefits as it is expected to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth that coincide with the increasing investment hubs and agrotourism within the area.
With additional reports, Jerry Adlaw, The Manila Times
Photo Sources: dpwh.com.ph, youtube–buildingforthefuture,
