Officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in collaboration with representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Department of Finance (DOF), and Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev formerly NEDA), conducted a joint site inspection of the R.T. Lim–Siocon Road on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The project is a major subcomponent under the Improving Growth Corridors for Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) spanning the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte.
DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, together with ADB Vice-President for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Scott Morris, led the inspection and expressed optimism about the project’s nearing completion. The road is part of the President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” vision and the Build Better More infrastructure program.
Also present during the site visit were DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, who oversees Official Development Assistance (ODA)-funded infrastructure flagship projects, and Undersecretaries Eugenio R. Pipo Jr. and Carlos G. Mutuc.
The inspection team included Undersecretary Joseph Capuno, Assistant Secretary Roderick Planta, and Director Aldwin Urbina from the DEPDev; Undersecretary Joven Balbosa and Assistant Secretary Donalyn Minimo from DOF; and DPWH officials including Project Directors Teresita V. Bauzon and Benjamin Bautista, retired Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim, Stakeholders Relations Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario, Regional Office 9 Director Cayamombao D. Dia, and Assistant Regional Director Soray’yah M. Ibrahim.
From ADB, the delegation included Director General for South East Asia Winfried Wicklein, Country Director Pavit Ramachandran, Transport Director Dong Kyu Lee, Transport Specialists Juan Gonzales and Faela Sufa, Incoming Country Operations Head for the Philippines Joros Van Etten, Advisor for the office of the East Asia Director Genera Kelly Bird, Environmental Specialist Syed Asim Ali Sabzwari, and Lead Project Officer (Infrastructure) Atty. Ruby Alvarez.
The R.T. Lim–Siocon Road Project, is one of eleven key sub-projects under the 152.61-kilometer IGCMRSP. It includes the construction of 24.03 kilometers of portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP) and six (6) bridges totaling 430.11 linear meters, covering an overall road length of 24.46 kilometers.
“We are pleased to announce that the R.T. Lim–Siocon Road project has officially entered its final stage of civil works. Thanks to the dedication of the Unified Project Management Office - Roads Management Cluster II (UPMO-RMC 2) under Project Director Bauzon, along with our contractor China Wuyi Co., Ltd., consultants, and partners, we are confident the project will be fully completed by this third quarter of 2025”, said Senior Undersecretary Sadain during the chi briefing.
To date, the project is 95% complete, with 23.75 kilometers of PCCP finished and only 0.28 kilometers remaining. Of the six (6) bridges, five (5) have been completed—Kuyan, Lituban, Pisawak II, Tabayo, and another Lituban Bridge—while the Mambong Bridge stands at 93.23% completion.
Funded through ADB Loan No. 3631-PHI, the ₱2.396-billion R.T. Lim–Siocon Road project plays a vital role in enhancing regional connectivity, promoting trade and mobility, and supporting peace and development by linking previously isolated communities through improved road infrastructure.
Secretary Bonoan underscored the broader impact of the project, saying that it not only eases access and mobility but also contributes to building climate-resilient and inclusive infrastructure in Mindanao.
The joint inspection highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the Philippine Government and international development partners like the ADB in delivering transformative, high-impact infrastructure investments that support inclusive growth and sustainable development across the region.
