Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez hailed on Monday afternoon the passage of a measure that would lead to the construction of a 240-kilometer trans-Mindanao superhighway.
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Rodriguez, a deputy speaker in the current 18th Congress, said the construction of this highway that would connect the Caraga Region and northern Mindanao to the Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental would greatly contribute to the development of the island region.
The proposed project is spelled out in House Bill (HB) No.2799, which the congressman penned himself. The Committee on Public Works and Highways chaired by Romblon Rep. Eleandro Madrona approved the bill in a virtual hearing earlier that day.
“At present, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur are isolated from western Mindanao due to absence of an east-to-west highway," Rodriguez noted.
“The proposed highway would allow people from the Caraga Region access to the Laguindingan Airport, with travel time of four hours from Tandag City in Surigao del Sur,” he said.
He said that people residing in these areas would greatly benefit from having such a road network.
“Further, a new highway would open up large tracts of agricultural land in Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro City to agricultural, commercial, residential, and industrial development,” Rodriguez added.
“This superhighway would pass through Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur and Malaybalay and Talakag in Bukidnon, which will connect with Talakag-Barangay Donsolihon road and the Barangay Donsolihon-Barangay San Simon-Laguindingan Airport highway,” he further said.
The bill mandates the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to construct the 240-kilometer trans-Mindanao highway that would connect Tandag to the Laguindingan International Airport.
Funds for the planned trans-Mindanao superhighway are to be included in the proposed annual budget.