By Franklin P. Gumapon
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – Although the
military officials have belied reports that the delay in the construction of
the west coast road project in Zamboanga del Norte was due to peace and order
problem, an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-9
averred that extortion and threats from lawless groups had prevented the
contractors from pursuing the project.
In the 150th Regional Development Council (RDC)
meeting held here last March 5, Assistant Regional Director Nenita Robles of
DPWH-9 told the participants that the contractors of the west coast road
project traversing the municipalities Baliguian, Siocon, Sirawai, and Sibuco in
Zamboanga del Norte to Zamboanga City were receiving extortion letters and
threats from the lawless elements operating in the area.
Robles also disclosed that some of the contractors’ heavy
equipment were allegedly burned down by their own workers for non-payment of
wages.
In a related development, Robles bared that the proposed
conversion of the 64.61-kilometer Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte to R.T. Lim,
Zamboanga Sibugay provincial road to a national road is now underway. “Traverse
survey was already conducted by the two engineering districts based in Labason,
Zamboanga del Norte and in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and the central office is
awaiting additional requirements to be submitted by these two engineering
districts,” Robles pointed out.
“Concreting of said road may take place within the current
year or early next year,” she added.
