P3.9-B South Cotabato-Sarangani road eases travel for Mindanao farmers

KORONADAL CITY — Farmers in upland communities in Tupi, South Cotabato, are finding it easier to travel and bring their agricultural products to market following improvements along the P3.9-billion Banga-Tupi-Malungon Road.

The road project, which connects parts of South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces, has improved access to farming communities where residents previously had to walk for hours or rely on horses to transport their harvests.

Johnny Bawik, a farmer from Sitio Acfaon in Barangay Bunao, Tupi, said traveling to and from their community used to be difficult because of poor road conditions.

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“We used to walk almost three hours from the sitio to this area because the road was very difficult. Now, it takes us less than 15 minutes by motorcycle,” Bawik said.

He said the improved road now allows residents to travel, mostly by motorcycle, making it much easier to reach their farms and transport their produce.

Before the road was improved, farmers relied mainly on horses to carry their harvests because vehicles could hardly reach their communities.

Bawik said the improvement has made a big difference for farmers who depend on corn, coconut and banana production for their livelihood.

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“Now it is very easy to transport our products like corn, coconut and bananas. That is our livelihood,” he said.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways -Region 12 (DPWH-12), the 92.725-kilometer road project has a total estimated cost of P3.945 billion, with P3.616 billion already released for its construction.

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As of Sept. 30, 2026, the agency reported that the project had reached 96.22 percent accomplishment based on the total amount released.

Construction began in February 2016 and expected for completion in December 2027.

The road is divided into three sections and involves opening and paving roads, as well as constructing and replacing bridges.

DPWH-12 said the road also serves as an alternative route for motorists traveling from South Cotabato to Malungon, Sarangani toward the Davao Region.

The DPWH earlier estimated that the project would shorten travel between Banga and Tupi, both in South Cotabato, from 94 minutes to 60 minutes, saving motorists 30 minutes.

For farmers like Bawik, the improvement has already made every day travel easier, particularly when bringing their harvests out of the upland communities.

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He thanked the national government and the DPWH for improving the road leading to their area, saying it has made their daily work less difficult. INQ