The Zamboanga West Coast Road will complete the circumferential road of the Zamboanga Peninsula and is expected to influence the economic growth of the municipalities of Sibuco, Sirawai, Siocon, Baliguian, Gutalac, Labason and Liloy. The road project ends at the junction of the Sindangan-Ipil National Road.

“Before, there is no inspiration to local production because there were no roads. Zamboanga Peninsula’s bounty marine harvest like squids, lobsters and fish could not be transported to nearby towns and provinces,” the President pointed out in a speech at the Jose Rizal Memorial State University here.

“Productivity is important to progress,” she said, adding that the road project, locally called “Triple S B Road”, will make the difference in people’s lives and benefit many municipalities especially Sirawai, Sibuco, Siocon and Baliguian.

Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo said the first 100 kilometers of the Zamboanga West Coast Road have been paved and the remaining 75.7 kilometers will be asphalted by June 30. By then the road project will be complete except for one bridge that will be finished a month later.

He said the road project was funded by the national government. “Its Katas ng VAT,” he said, echoing what the President has said.

In a related event here, the President told students of the Jose Rizal Memorial State University that quality education must be backed up by technology as she stressed that technology is important to agriculture and the development of Mindanao as the country’s food basket in the south.

“There must be proper methods of agronomy, agricultural technology,” she said.

The President pointed out that connectivity—through roads, bridges, ports and communication -- will pave the way to a very progressive agricultural Mindanao. |FULL STORY - 03/13/10|