Transcentral road project seen to help drive Abu Sayyaf out of Basilan

BASILAN, Philippines — Infrastructure and agricultural development through a soon to be completed transcentral road network has started to dislodge the Abu Sayyaf from its havens in the forested parts of the island province.

 

This, as the regional government kicked off the road network's second phase — which cuts through Sampinit Complex, an Abu Sayyaf hideout in the center of this island province — over the weekend.

 

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who led the ceremonial start of construction, sees the end of the Abu Sayyaf group in the island province as development comes into previously inaccesible areas. The road network will also make areas of Basilan more accessible to security forces.

 

He said the province's farmers were prevented for decades from making the most of developing huge tracts of farmlands into plantations of coconuts, rubber trees and other high-yielding crops because of the security threat.

 

Hataman said the opening of the road network will reduce travel time from all corners of the island province by half.

 

“Meaning this will enhance the economic activities for the farmers and businessmen, and sale of harvest or raw materials will increase and will benefit most of the marginalized residents,” Hataman said.

 

“Secondly, this will give also be big contribution to the security of the island and the farmers,” Hataman added.

 

A faction of the Abu Sayyaf group under Furuji Indama and sub-leader Radzmil Janatul continues to operate in the province. They have been scattered and are on the run because of continuing military operations in Basilan.

 

Hataman stressed the road opening in Al-Barka town, formerly a dreaded area because of the Abu Sayyaf, has brough stability to the area.

 

The concreting of the 14-kilometer road, which is the remaining part of the 55-kilometer transcentral road, will be done by the district engineering office under engineer Soler Undog as a project of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Department of Public Works and Highway.

 

ARMM-DPWH Secretary Don Mustapha Loong said the construction of the Php1.225-billion transcentral road project that started early in 2016 is being funded with allocations from the yearly infrastructure budget of the ARMM.

 

Loong said the second phase of road work traverses Tumahubong-Punoh Dahingan-Punoh Mohaje-Sampinit Complex.