The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has launched the construction of a two-storey Core Head Office Building to oversee the Parang East Diversion Road project in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said the groundbreaking marks a significant milestone for the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM).
A flagship initiative under the Marcos administration, RNDP-CAAM aims to address Mindanao’s infrastructure gap, enhance connectivity, and promote long-term stability, particularly in conflict-affected regions.
Funded by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project seeks to ease traffic congestion and improve access to key areas, including Polloc Port, the region's only international port.
The Parang East Diversion Road, or Sub-Project 8 (SP-8), will span 7.074 kilometers, featuring four bridges totaling 287.8 meters in length, along with earthworks, drainage systems, slope protection, and a two-lane concrete roadway.
The road, passing through the barangays of Making, Gumagadong Calawag, Manion, and Nituan, is expected to be completed in 28 months by China Geo-Engineering (Phil) Corp. and RD Interior Junior Construction, significantly improving regional mobility.
In addition to the Parang East Diversion Road, the RNDP-CAAM will improve and construct 174.58 kilometers of access roads across BARMM, further boosting regional development.
This infrastructure initiative is expected to uplift local communities, stimulate economic activity, and integrate the region more firmly into national development efforts.