DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- The role of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in realizing the Davao City Coastal Road was acknowledged by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the opening ceremony of the Bago Aplaya- Tulip Drive Segment of the Davao City Coastal Road on Saturday, July 1.

“Also, of extreme importance to the completion of this project we must acknowledge my predecessor someone who was a central part, instrumental to bringing us here today, the former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” President Marcos said in his speech.

The project began in 2017 under the term of President Duterte as part of his Build, Build, Build flagship infrastructure program.

The Davao City Coastal Road is a bypass road network with a length of 17.9 kilometers traverses Davao City’s coastal areas and is aimed at alleviating chronic traffic problems along Davao City proper while facilitating the movement of more people and goods to and from the city.

The infrastructure has long been a dream of the city even during the time when former President Duterte was still the Mayor of Davao City. 

“I call on the DPWH and everyone involved in this and all the other infrastructure projects: The work needs to be done.  Strive to finish the remaining segments and let us do it within schedule so that our people may reap and truly enjoy the maximum benefits of your hard work,” President Marcos said.

In his speech, he bared that the coastal road is part of the  Philippine High Standard Highway Network that will connect various locations across the country particularly its major economic centers.

High standard highways are infrastructure that provide high level of traffic services leading to high speed mobility and safe travel to support economic activities in strategic regions and the country.

President Marcos, together with Vice President Duterte, were present at the Saturday morning ceremonies held at the Times Beach area located adjacent to the Tulip Drive section of the coastal road.  The two officials led the ceremonial drive through at the Tulip Drive-Times Beach section of the completed road.

Also in attendance at the event were Senator Imee Marcos, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, along with Davao City Government officials led by Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Vice Mayor Jay Melchor Quitain Jr.

Tourist Attraction

Apart from being a road network, the coastal road also features open spaces such as parks and promenades. Already completed are the Bago Aplaya and Gulf View esplanades with a combined area of 5.5 hectares.

Also planned to be constructed are two parks along the Tulip Drive section with a combined area of eight hectares. Upon completion, the parks will be turned over to the City Government for their maintenance and upkeep.

“Aside from transportation, this road project also features walkways, bicycle lanes, linear parks—public spaces that our people need for their comfort, happiness, and well-being. I can imagine already the locals and especially our tourists taking a stroll while looking at the view, feeling the breeze coming in from the coast and taking with them the energy and peace they need to go about with their daily lives, with memories of Davao City and the Philippines,”  President Marcos said in his speech recognizing the potential of the road’s parks and promenades in drawing residents and tourists

Senator Imee Marcos, who attended the opening ceremony, magnified the tourism potentials of the coastal road.

“Naiingit ako, talagang mahangin hindi mo nararamdaman ang init napakaganda pag nabuo ito tutumbok sa tuloy tapos tutumbok sa Samal Island bonggang-bongga ito, ang saya-saya (I’m envious, it’s breezy, you cannot feel the heat. It’s very beautiful, when it is completed it will lead to the bridge that will lead to Samal Island, it is grand, exciting) this will be a great place for events, for business, for night market every manner of activity,” the Senator said.

The Bago Aplaya- Tulip Drive segment with a distance of 8.019 kilometers is the longest section of the Davao City Coastal Road project. Construction works are ongoing in the different segments of the project which ends in R. Castillo in Lanang District.

The construction of the 1.43-kilometer Bucana Bridge that will connect the segments from the two opposite sides of the Davao River will start in December of this year. (RGA/PIA Davao City)