ARMM to build more water supply facilities

COTABATO CITY --- The public works department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is aiming to increase by at least two folds in the next 35 months the 46 water supply facilities it constructed in far-flung areas from 2012 to 2015.Documents obtained on Monday from state auditors showed that the Department of Public Works and Highways-ARMM had constructed during the period 46 water supply facilities in the region, something never done by past regional administrations. That is a feat this administration can talk about proudly, so unprecedented,” said Engr. Don Loong, regional secretary of DPWH-ARMM. The newly-reelected ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman on Tuesday said all of their infrastructure projects from June 30, 2016 until his second term ends in 2019 shall be open to scrutiny by media and interested civil society organizations.Loong said more water supply facilities will be constructed during Hataman’s second term, to last until June 30, 2019. We will ask the communities in areas where these projects are to be implemented to help monitor the construction works based on implementation programs and funding schemes,” Loong said.The autonomous region covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.The DPWH-ARMM constructed five water systems in 2012 out of a P19 million allocation 10 in 2013 at P121 million and 30 more projects in 2014 at P264 million.At least 14 of the 72 water supply projects for 2015 had been accomplished, according to documents and a common matrix obtained from government auditors.The ARMM government has allocated P745 million for its 72 water supply projects that were programmed in 2015. We are confident, barring all undue circumstances, such as bad weather and security issues, we can accomplish more during the second term of Gov. Hataman,” Loong said.Hataman first got to the helm of the ARMM government as appointed caretaker in December 2011. He was first elected to office, as ARMM’s eighth duly-mandated regional governor, on May 13, 2013.Hataman was reelected to a second term on May 9, 2016.