Two World Bank-funded projects in Mindanao are progressing satisfactorily to improve agricultural productivity and road infrastructure in the region.

The Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project (MTCIP) as well as the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) were both lauded by the Washington-based multilateral lender for their “satisfactory” implementation since loan financing for these projects was approved in 2025 and 2023, respectively.

For MTCIP, “procurement of key activities have commenced and will be accelerated in the coming months with the initiation of additional consultancy services,” the World Bank said in a May 20 implementation status and results report.

This was despite the World Bank assigning a “substantial” overall risk rating for this project.

Being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), MTCIP aims to enhance the interconnection, climate resilience, as well as safety of selected roads in the southern island.

In particular, the project seeks to improve transport services in the Cagayan de Oro-Davao-General Santos corridor and nearby areas by upgrading selected local roads, as well as through improvements in climate-resilient transport asset management and road safety.

However, no amount has been drawn so far from the revised $506.99-million investment project financing (IPF) greenlit by the World Bank. This loan will close in April 2032.

Meanwhile, the World Bank said in an earlier May 15 implementation status and results report that the rollout of MIADP “remains on track.”

“Significant gains have been achieved since the previous mission, including completion of social preparation across all 26 ancestral domains and a transition to scaled-up implementation, with a number of subprojects under implementation and a substantially expanded pipeline,” the World Bank said.

“Progress has been recorded across all components, notably in strengthening institutional readiness, expanding infrastructure investments, and accelerating enterprise development, including increased participation of women-led groups,” it added.

This Department of Agriculture (DA) project, which the World Bank assigned a “moderate” risk rating, aims to improve the agricultural productivity, resilience, as well as market and service access of organized farmer and fisherfolk groups in selected ancestral domains and value chains in Mindanao.

Out of the $100 million borrowed from the World Bank for this project, $26.84 million has been disbursed to date. This IPF will close in mid-2029.