The Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has announced that the Marbel-Makar Road widening project is on schedule to open to the public before the year-end, giving commuters access to wider roads in Polomok, South Cotabato.  

Works include widening of two roads along an 8km portion of Marbel-Makar Road in Polomok, which is being carried out with an investment of PHP239m ($4.6m). 

DPWH Region 12 OIC-Director Basir Ibrahim said: "We are 6% ahead of schedule and we hope that before the end of 2017, our aim to widen the road from two lanes to four lanes will be fully accomplished."

Ibrahim added that the road widening project will benefit motorists travelling to the port of General Santos city.

"We are 6% ahead of schedule and hope that before the end of 2017, our aim to widen the road from two lanes to four lanes will be fully accomplished."

The projects are said to be part of the road widening programme being implemented all over Soccsksargen Region by the DPWH Regional Office 12. 

In another development, DPWH is set to complete major road improvement works on the 10km Masbate-Cataingan-Placer Road in the province of Masbate. The new road is expected to open to the public later this year.

DPWH is carrying out the road improvement works with an investment of PHP178.2m ($3.4m) to facilitate faster movement of agricultural and marine products and other basic services from Masbate to other towns and vice-versa.

DPWH Region 5 Director Danilo Versola said: “The Masbate-Cataingan-Placer Road improvement project would strengthen road connectivity within the towns of Uson, Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, and Placer in Masbate and other neighbouring areas."