IMPASUG-ONG, Bukidnon — Impasugong is now the first town in Bukidnon to benefit from the P37-billion Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project (MTCIP), a flagship road program of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

The project strengthens road networks across Mindanao and supports the national government’s push to improve connectivity in key growth corridors.

Funded through a World Bank loan with counterpart financing from the Philippine government, the project costs about P37 billion. It aims to improve transport links, boost road safety, and expand access to key growth areas across Northern Mindanao, in line with the government’s broader infrastructure modernization efforts.

The DPWH Bukidnon 1st District Engineering Office sealed a partnership with the municipal government through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Link Road 1, advancing the implementation of priority infrastructure projects that aim to bring services and economic opportunities closer to communities.

Link Road 1 will connect Sayre Highway in Patulangan to Cawayan–Kibenton Road and loop back to Sayre Highway in Impasug-ong, strengthening road connectivity between rural communities and major transport routes.

Once completed, the corridor will speed up the movement of farm goods, cut travel time, and lower transport costs for farmers and residents in interior barangays.

DPWH Bukidnon 1st District Engineer Maria B. David said the project will provide safer, more reliable travel for motorists.

“The improved route will enhance mobility, reduce travel time, and lower transport costs for farmers and residents, especially those in interior barangays,” David said.

As the first Bukidnon municipality to receive the project, Impasug-ong is poised to expand economic activity and improve access to essential services in Northern Mindanao, particularly for communities in geographically isolated areas.

DPWH said the road project also supports the national government’s push to accelerate Mindanao’s growth through sustained infrastructure investment and improved regional connectivity.

Impasug-ong Mayor Jetaime Mai Okinlay-Gumban said the road link realizes a cherished dream of the town.

“Since the early 2000s, we have dreamed of connecting every community, so no one is isolated and no one is left behind,” the mayor said.

With the MOU signed, she said stakeholders will fast-track coordination and implementation, advancing sustainable and inclusive development in Bukidnon and across Mindanao while supporting the government’s infrastructure-driven development agenda. (BGE/PIA-10/Bukidnon)