ARMM turns over P20.5-M JICA-assisted projects to Lanao del Sur

By Noel Y. Punzalan

MALABANG, Lanao del Sur, July 30 (PNA) -– Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officials, in coordination with Japanese government representatives, turned over to local managers here Wednesday two infrastructure projects amounting to P20.5-million.

The projects, both situated in Barangay Mabul, entail the rehabilitation of the Dr. Serapio B. Montañer Jr. Memorial District Hospital (DSBMMH) amounting to P14.4 million; and the concreting of the 582-meter access road leading to the hospital costing P6.1 million.

Both undertakings were implemented by the ARMM Social Fund Program (ASFP) under its Strategic Regional Infrastructure sub-projects through a soft loan acquired from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The DSBMMH is a 25-bed capacity government infirmary catering to the health needs of some 100,000 populace at the southwestern part of Lanao del Sur. The figure represents 14 percent of the province’s total population.

“In particular, the hospital is serving the people in the towns of Malabang, Balabagan, Marogong, Pikong and Kapatagan,” DSBMMH chief Dr. Romeo Montañer said.

Currently, he said that the district hospital is the only existing government hospital serving the Lanao del Sur populace apart from those situated in distant Cagayan de Oro City.

“At last, we now have a modern hospital in the center of the province that would provide affordable hospital care and services through the upgrading both of its structures and facilities,” Montañer stressed.

Engr. Nasser Sinarimbo, ASFP project manager, said their latest venture forms part of some 33 other projects that they would implement across the region this year.

The ARMM comprises the cities of Marawi and Lamitan and the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-tawi.

“So far, we have completed 17 of the projects,” Sinarimbo said.

Masafumi Nagaishi, JICA deputy chief representative, noted that their government is expecting that the ARMM health department sustain fully the services of the hospital to its people.

For his part, Tomonori Kikuchi, Japan Embassy first secretary, said all Japanese-assisted projects in the ARMM exemplifies his country’s strong support to the peace initiatives being pushed by the national government for conflict areas in Mindanao.

"Let us not put to waste such projects as it signifies our countries’ continuous partnership for peace and development,” he said. (PNA)
DCT/NYP