by Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol

Chairman, MinDA

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will officially ask the Department of Public Works and Highways this week to shed light and explanation on the indiscriminate construction of concrete islands in the middle of national highways in Mindanao, especially in the Davao-Cotabato Highway.

The MinDA official inquiry on the construction of the concrete islands costing millions in government funds will be focused on the following points:

1. What is the functional relevance of the Concrete Islands to the flow of traffic or road safety?

2. What standards or criteria were used in determining which portions of the national highways should have concrete islands?

3. What agency of government is funding the construction of the Concrete Islands and how much was allocated for the program?

4. In the identification of essential projects for the socio-economic development of Mindanao, was the construction of the Concrete Islands listed as a priority project? If so, which agency of government identified it as such?

5. Did the Regional Development Council, which by law is the processing and clearing house of all development projects, identify and endorse the projects for funding?

The official MinDA inquiry is addressed to the DPWH Secretary since all infrastructure projects, regardless of funding sources, are implemented by the agency.

The inquiry was made following my official instructions to the MinDA staff to seek clarification on the rush to build the Concrete Islands even in the face of the financial and economic challenges affecting the country.

I pointed out that the construction of the Concrete Islands in the middle of the national highway eats up at least one lane thus defeating the road widening program of government.

Most of all, it is my personal observation that the Concrete Islands do not have any beneficial function and the funds could be used for the repair and construction of other critical roads leading to agriculrural production areas.