Mindanao gets P300-B worth of infrastructure projects

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) reported that there are around P300 billion worth of ongoing infrastructure projects in Mindanao. 

MinDA said during a media forum on December 4, 2024, at the Ayala Malls Abreeza, that there are around P393.5 billion infrastructure projects ongoing here in Mindanao. These projects include the Iligan City Coastal Bypass Road, CDO-Opol-El Salvador-Alubijid-Laguindingan Airport Diversion Road, Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road, Sindangan-Bayog-Lakewood Road, Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector, Reconstruction and Development Plan for a Greater Marawi Stage two, and the Cabadbaran-Puting Bato-Lanuza Road. 

Some of the noteworthy projects in Davao City include the Davao City Bypass Road Project, Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC), Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, Davao (Sasa) Port Modernization Project, and the Davao City Coastal Road Project. 

Meanwhile, an estimated P670.13 billion worth of projects in Mindanao need funding. Among these are the Mindanao Railway Project Phase 3, Naawan-Opol-Cagayan de Oro City-Villanueva Expressway, Agus 3 Hydroelectric Power Project, Maridagao (Kadingilan) Irrigation Project, and Zamboanga Public Transport Modernization Project. 

Other projects that are still in need of funding include Davao International Airport Modernization, Davao PTMP Operations and Maintenance, Metro Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, Davao River Basin Flood Control Projects, and the Mindanao Railway Project-Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment.  

The infrastructure projects that are approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) are the Mindanao River Basin Flood Control Project, Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project, Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation (InFRA) Project-Phase, and the Davao City Expressway Project. Also, the projects awaiting approval from Neda are Agus-Pulangui Rehabilitation Project, San Ramon Port, and the New Zamboanga International Airport. 

Projects in Mindanao that are under PPP and joint venture (JV) worth P253.7 billion are the Cagayan de Oro Bus Rapid Transit; Laguindingan Airport-Operations, Maintenance, and Development Project; Naawan-Opol-Cagayan de Oro City-Villanueva Expressway, San Ramon Port, General Santos (Makar) Port, Davao PTMP Operations and Maintenance, Davao (Sasa) Port Modernization Project, Davao International Airport Modernization, and the Mindanao Railway Project Phase 3 (Northern Mindanao). 

MinDA is monitoring 45 big-ticket infrastructure projects in Mindanao, of which 18 are ongoing and 27 are awaiting funding while four are already approved by the Neda board. It said that if they prioritize higher spending for infrastructure projects, it would create a greater impact on lasting peace, inclusive economic growth, and contribute to the reduction of poverty in Mindanao. RGP