Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, with Vice Governor Rochella Marie Taliño Taray, officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways–12 and the Mindanao Development Authority, formally inaugurates and opens the Lumayong Parallel Bridge in Kabacan town and the Carmen Parallel Bridge in Carmen town on Monday, May 4, to motorists and the general public. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)
By Ivy Tejano
KABACAN, Cotabato – Government officials formally opened on Monday, May 4, two newly completed parallel bridges in North Cotabato province to improve connectivity between Region 12 and Northern Mindanao and make travel and transport easier.
The inaugurated structures — the Lumayong Parallel Bridge in Kabacan town and the Carmen Parallel Bridge in Carmen town — are expected to improve traffic flow along Bukidnon-Cotabato Road, a major transport corridor linking the two regions.
Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, along with the officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways–12 and the Mindanao Development Authority, led the inauguration ceremony at Approach A Lumayong Parallel Bridge in Kayaga.
Mendoza said the bridges are long-overdue projects that will strengthen interprovincial connectivity between Bukidnon and Cotabato, enhance interregional access across Mindanao, and help speed up the transport of people and goods.
“I hope this road section will eventually be elevated from a secondary national highway to a primary one because of its importance as a road network connecting Region 12 and the Northern Mindanao and Bangsamoro areas,” Mendoza said.
She emphasized that the bridge will expand regional access and make transportation more efficient and convenient. She added that the road network is expected to support local industries in Carmen town.
“One of the country’s largest palm oil processing operators is here, and there is also a refinery for coconut products in this area. Out of only a few such refineries in the country, one is located in Carmen,” the governor said.
Mendoza said the bridges would also help improve mobility for security forces, particularly the Philippine Army’s 602nd Brigade assigned in the area, in responding to concerns in nearby communities.
The governor said Kabacan and Carmen play strategic roles in the industrial development zone of Cotabato Province and serve as vital gateways along the Northern Highlands Corridor of Region 12.
Mendoza said the project began in 2020 during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, with funding for the completion secured only in 2024 under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“No less than the division engineers here in DPWH, former Regional Director Basir Ibrahim, Congresswoman Samantha Santos, and even TUCP and I worked to request the DPWH central office to fund the completion of this bridge,” she added.
Mendoza thanked the president, the DPWH, the Mindanao Development Authority, and members of Congress. She said partnership and appreciation are important in identifying and prioritizing projects for funding.
The governor urged authorities to prioritize the rehabilitation of the old Magsaysay Bridge, which remains in use in the area, to ensure connectivity and sustainability. The old structure was built during the presidency of Ramon Magsaysay.
Cayamombao Dia, regional director of the DPWH-12, said both bridges were built in two phases. She added that these bridges serve as an important link between Kabacan and Carmen, improving traffic flow and connectivity across Mindanao.
Phase 1 covered foundation and substructure works and began on Dec. 18, 2020. The 180-linear-meter Lumayong Bridge had an initial contract cost of P96.5 million, while the 240-linear-meter Carmen Bridge had a first-phase contract cost of P143.6 million.
The second phase, which included the bridge superstructure, road surface, and other finishing works, started on Sept. 17, 2024. Phase 2 of the Lumayong Bridge cost P136.93 million, while Phase 2 of the Carmen Bridge cost P122.72 million.
Dia said the total combined investment for both parallel bridge projects amounts to approximately P499.86 million, reflecting the government’s substantial commitment to improving interregional infrastructure in Mindanao.
“The Carmen and Lumayong Parallel Bridge projects are a major investment in Mindanao’s infrastructure,” Dia said. “We are happy to officially open the Lumayong Parallel Bridge and the Carmen Parallel Bridge to public use.”
MinDA Chair and Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, in a message read by Ollie Dagala of the MinDA’s Investment Promotion and Public Affairs Office, said the bridges would improve agricultural transport and reduce travel delays for farmers and traders.
“For the municipalities of Carmen and Kabacan, both major agricultural hubs, these bridges ensure faster transport of goods, reduce harvest losses, and strengthen market access,” Magno said.
He said these parallel bridges also provide redundancy and resilience. He added that during unforeseen events, connectivity is maintained, preventing community isolation and ensuring the continuous flow of goods and services.
“In Mindanao, we often say that infrastructure is a bridge to peace. By connecting communities and opening access to economic opportunities, we lay the foundation for stability, peace, inclusion, and long-term development,” he said.
Magno said MinDA remains committed to strengthening connections and sharing the benefits of peace through the Building a Better Mindanao program. He added that they continue working with local partners to improve lives.
Residents like Wahab Kadalim, 65, a tricycle driver who has been in Kabacan for over a decade, also welcomed the opening of the new bridges. He said the new parallel bridges would make daily travel faster and safer for drivers like him.
He said he rarely drives to Carmen town unless most of the passengers are headed there, because motorists had previously experienced heavy traffic and long wait times when only one bridge lane was open.
Miriam Mamato, 72, a farmer in Kabacan, said the bridge would make it easier for residents to travel between towns and transport agricultural products to markets. She added that they can now easily go to Carmen during events.
Officials and residents said the new bridges are expected to boost trade, improve mobility, and strengthen regional development efforts in Mindanao by making transport faster, safer, and more efficient for both people and goods.
