THE House of Representatives last week approved on second reading a House Bill No. 2799 authored by deputy speaker and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.
“The bill, or the construction of 240-kilometer trans-Mindanao superhighway was unanimously approved through voice voting by the chamber,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said that the construction of this superhighway that will connect the Caraga Region and Northern Mindanao to the Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental would contribute to the development of Mindanao.
The proposed highway would even allow people from the Caraga Region access to the Laguindingan Airport, with travel time of four hours from Tandag City in Surigao del Sur, according to Rodriguez.
“At present, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur are isolated from western Mindanao due to absence of an east-to-west highway,” he said.
The bill mandates the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to construct the 240-kilometer trans-Mindanao highway that would connect Tandag, Surigao del Sur to the Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental.
“A new highway would open up large tracts of agricultural land in Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro City to agricultural, commercial, residential, and industrial development,” he said.
The highway would pass through Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur and Malaybalay and Talakag in Bukidnon, which will connect with Talakag-Barangay Dansolihon road and the Barangay Dansolihon-Barangay San Simon-Laguindingan Airport highway.
The funds for the future trans-Mindanao superhighway are to be included in the proposed annual budget, said Rodriguez.
