DPWH strengthens stakeholder engagement for Mindanao road network project


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(Photo: DPWH)

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is intensifying its collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas of Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM).

DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain led a meeting in Cotabato City last Thursday, Jan. 30, to discuss the project's progress, challenges, and strategies, and address critical issues such as right-of-way acquisition and security concerns.

The RNDP-CAAM, managed by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office - Roads Management Cluster 1 (UPMO-RMC 1), involves the construction of 80.97 kilometers of new national roads designed to improve links between the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and neighboring provinces.

Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project is part of the national government’s broader infrastructure development plan to foster socio-economic opportunities and promote stability in conflict-affected areas.

Sadain emphasized that the RNDP-CAAM is a key infrastructure legacy of the Marcos administration, underscoring the government’s commitment to physical development and peace-building in Mindanao.

The meeting highlighted the importance of coordination among national agencies, local governments, and communities to ensure smooth project implementation, Sadain said.

One completed component, the P744.589 million Marawi Transcentral Road, has already improved access to Marawi City, aiding in the region’s recovery, he noted.

Construction of the P1.379 billion Parang East Diversion Road (Sub-Project 8) is set to begin in the first quarter of 2025, pending JICA’s approval and the notice to proceed.

Bidding is also underway for the P3 billion Manuangan-Parang Road (Sub-Project 9), which is expected to boost economic activity in Maguindanao del Norte and North Cotabato.

Meanwhile, the 36.73-kilometer Parang-Balabagan Road (Sub-Project 2), estimated at P6.898 billion, is nearing final approval of its detailed engineering design before moving into the procurement phase.

The DPWH has urged local government units to support these projects, which will create economic opportunities and reinforce peace-building efforts in the region.