World Bank approves $950.54M projects for transport and healthcare in Philippines

The World Bank has approved two major projects worth a combined $950.54 million to improve transportation and healthcare in the Philippines.

These initiatives aim to benefit at least 19 million Filipinos by enhancing transport connectivity and health services, particularly in Mindanao and low-capacity provinces.

One project will upgrade a 428-kilometer road corridor linking Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos, reducing transportation costs for farmers and connecting rural areas to urban centers.

Another $495.6 million project will invest in healthcare networks, workforce development, and emergency response systems across 17 provinces to serve 17.9 million Filipinos, prioritizing those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

The projects also support digital transformation and institutional strengthening at both national and local levels.

Wei Han, World Bank senior economist, emphasized the importance of empowering low-capacity LGUs to deliver high-quality health services and drive socioeconomic progress through improved health outcomes for Filipinos.