COTABATO CITY — BARMM lawmakers proposed to create district engineering offices in Cotabato City and 63 villages in North Cotabato.

Engr. Baintan Adil Ampatuan, Atty. Laisa Alamia, Amilbahar Mawallil, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Engr. Don Mustapha Loong, Atty. Rasol Mitmug, Jr., and Rasul Esmael introduced to the plenary Parliament Bill No. 100 or “An Act Creating the New Geographic Areas District Engineering Office”.

At present, there is no DEO in Cotabato City as it was abolished following its inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The ‘New Geographic Areas District Engineering Office,’ if passed into law, will provide high-quality public infrastructure and maintenance services throughout its area of jurisdiction.

The offices will be under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Works. It will be located in Cotabato City, covering 37 barangays and 63 villages in North Cotabato. 

Improvements in the quality of infrastructure services, according to the proposed bill, will help reduce the cost of doing business and result in positive economic value, which will stimulate job creation, encourage private investment, improve productivity, and ensure the Bangsamoro people’s well-being.

The DEOs in new geographic areas are  responsible for local roads, flood control, water resources development system, and other public works in Cotabato City and 63 barangays in Cotabato province and performs the following functions:

•   Implement policies, guidelines and procedures for the effective implementation of construction and maintenance of infrastructure projects;

•   Inspect, verify, monitor, supervise and evaluate infrastructure projects in accordance with existing standards and guidelines;

•   Implement various infrastructure projects in their respective areas of jurisdiction;

•   Conduct, inspect, and assess the condition of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects and submit a report thereon to the MPW;

•   Prepare, review and evaluate plans, programs of work, and estimate including reports and submit a report thereon to the MPW;

•   Prepare, evaluate and endorse requests for funding to the MPW for the repair/rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure facilities brought about by calamities;

•   Undertake the management, repair, maintenance and rehabilitation of construction and maintenance property, plant and equipment;

•   Undertake regular monitoring of the progress of programs and project implementation, including implementation problems and issues for timely resolutions; and

•   Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Director-General and/or the Minister of MPW. (Publication and Media Relations Division)