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The National Economic and Development Authority Board approved the P37-billion Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project, which will connect Regions 10, 11, and 12
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The Department of Public Works and Highways project was approved in a NEDA Board meeting on October 16
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Consisting of five major components, the MTCIP involves upgrading the Cagayan de Oro-Davao-General Santos Corridor
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has approved the P37-billion Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project (MTCIP), which will connect Regions 10, 11, and 12.
The Department of Public Works and Highways project was submitted to the NEDA-Investment Coordinating Committee in July and approved by the NEDA Board in its 21st meeting on October 16. It will be financed through an official development assistance loan from the World Bank.
Consisting of five major components, the MTCIP involves connecting Regions 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao region), and 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN) by upgrading and ensuring the long-term maintenance of the Cagayan de Oro-Davao-General Santos Corridor with road sections encompassing 277.4 kilometers (km) from Cagayan de Oro to Davao and 150.8 km from Davao to General Santos City.
Completion is expected in 2030.
The project also involves the upgrade of three local roads totaling 129.86 km. These include the Link Road 1 from Sayre Highway (Patulangan) to Cawayan-Kibenton in Bukidnon; Link Road 2 from Fatima Malabog Road to Saloy-Bantol-Davao-Bukidnon Road to Panabo City; and Link Road 3 from the National Highway Junction in Poblacion Malungon to Sta. Maria Road, Davao Occidental.
“Mindanao Transport Connectivity Transport Project is part of the master plan for high-standard Highway Network Development Project, which identified major projects that would be developed from north Luzon, central Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said.
“This project should provide high-level traffic services by assuring high speed mobility and safe travel to vital transport socio-economic activities for development of the regions and the country as a whole,” he added.
The MTCIP will also improve the transportation network in Mindanao, facilitate the transport of agricultural goods from isolated areas, preserve the long-term value of road assets, and minimize the expenses associated with routine and periodic road maintenance.
“Through the MTCIP, we anticipate significant economic growth in Mindanao’s outlying regions as improved transportation will make travel more accessible and ease the delivery of agricultural goods and services,” NEDA Secretary and NEDA Board vice chairperson Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.
