P145.56B Central Mindanao Highway gets ED Council nod

The 65-kilometer Central Mindanao High Standard Highway Construction Project (CMHSHCP)-Cagayan de Oro-Malaybalay Section has been approved by the Economy and Development (ED) Council.

In a statement on Friday, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said the P145.56-billion project, to be funded by an official development assistance (ODA) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was approved by the ED Council, chaired by the President, during its meeting on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

The CMHSHCP-Cagayan de Oro-Malaybalay Section would span 64.7 kilometers of four-lane road traversing the Municipality of Tagoloan and the City of Cagayan de Oro in the Province of Misamis Oriental, as well as the Municipalities of Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Impasugong, and Malaybalay in the Province of Bukidnon. 

The project also involves the construction of 47 bridges, nine of which are special long-span bridges, according to the DEPDev.

The socioeconomic planning agency said that once the CMHSHCP-Cagayan de Oro-Malaybalay Sector is completed, the travel time between the two metropolitan centers will be cut from 6.5 hours to 3.5 hours.

“Improving connectivity between CDO and Bukidnon is a welcome development as we continuously revitalize Mindanao's regional economy," DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

Beyond reducing travel time, this project is expected to generate jobs during construction and operation, stimulate local businesses, and attract new investments. By enhancing market access and mobility, it will help reduce poverty, raise incomes, and boost overall economic activity in the area, creating long-term benefits for communities across the region,”

Moreover, the ED Council, during its meeting, also gave its approval for the P28.24-billion Pang-Agraryong Tulay para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka (PBBM) Bridges Project.

The bridges project is seen to enhance market access and rural connectivity for Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs), boosting the productivity and incomes of at least 350,000 households. 

The project involves the construction of better and well-designed durable, permanent modular steel bridges to link ARCs with growth centers and key value chain nodes, according to the DEPDev.

The ED Council also approved the adjustment to the Farm-to-Market Bridges Development Program (FMBDP) implementation period, moving it from Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2028 to FY 2026-2029. 

With a total project cost of P27.69 billion, the DEPDev said the program involves the construction of 300 modular steel panel bridges across 15 regions, helping farmers, fisherfolk, and rural residents access markets, reduce poverty, and raise household incomes.

“The Marcos administration recognizes the crucial role of rural infrastructure in stimulating economic growth. These projects go beyond engineering solutions—they are strategic interventions to transform subsistence farming and fishing into competitive, profitable enterprises,” Balisacan said. –NB, GMA Integrated News