SoCot eyes completion of GenSan-Tboli road in 2019

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for the completion by next year of a vital road network that will connect the province's upper valley area to this city.

South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Thursday they have been closely working with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fast-track the ongoing road construction works for the remaining sections of the PHP3-billion Surallah-Tboli-San Jose road.

She said around PHP200 million worth of road concreting projects are ongoing along road sections in Barangay San Jose here and another P300 million road opening and concreting works in T'boli, South Cotabato.

In the South Cotabato side, Fuentes said the ongoing construction works cover portions of Barangays Tibulok and Afus in Tboli.

"The road opening has been taking some time as it covered forest areas, but we expect that the remaining works will be completed later next year," she said in a radio interview.   

The governor said the Surallah-T’boli-San Jose Road will mainly connect the town centers of Surallah and Tboli to this city.

She said it will specifically pass through Barangay San Jose here and Barangays Maan, Tibulok, Afus and Poblacion in T'boli.

The road section here is connected to the city circumferential road, which traverses the city international airport and the city fishport complex.

"Once completed, it will significantly cut down travel time from Surallah and T'boli to the General Santos airport and other parts of the city," Fuentes said.

Travel time from this city to Surallah town, which is about 113 kilometers, takes around two hours and 30 minutes.

The alternate route via T'boli was estimated at more than 40 kilometers and will reduce travel time by about half.

The Surallah-Tboli-San Jose road network had been identified by the Mindanao Development Authority as among the road projects that will help boost the area's economic potentials.

It was also declared by the Regional Development Council of Region 12 as one of the region's priority development projects. (PNA)