MANILA -- One year into the 37-month schedule, the on-going 10.7 kilometer Contract Package (CP) 1-1 of the Davao City Bypass Road Construction Project is heating up making significant progress.

In his report to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Roger G. Mercado, Undersecretary and Build Build Build (BBB) Chief Implementer Emil K. Sadain said that recent project site visit showed a workable area of about eight (8) kilometers including the tunnel segment. 

The tunnel is an important construction component of the 45.5 kilometer Davao City Bypass Road Project.

It is undeniable that implementation of most flagship infrastructure projects has been enormously interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, adverse weather condition, and among others.

“I am glad that since the tunnelling works was launched and witnessed by no less than Secretary Mercado and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa last third week of November 2021, the excavated length for the north portal is already at 10 meters, complete with efficient and safe ground control elements of steel ribs support, rock bolts, wire mesh and pneumatically applied large-aggregate concrete or shotcrete”, added Undersecretary Sadain, in-charge of the DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations. 

Others who joined the project visit includes UPMO Projects Director Benjamin A. Bautista, Roads Management Cluster 1; Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim, Roads Management Cluster 2; Ramon A. Arriola III, Flood Control Management Cluster; Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes, Bridges Management Cluster; and Johnson V. Domingo, Buildings and Special Projects Management Cluster; and Bureau of Construction OIC-Director Aristarco M. Doroy. 

The construction of two (2)-tube mountain tunnel will be the longest road tunnel in the Philippines at 2.3 kilometer. 

Expected to provide considerable employment opportunities, Davao City Bypass Road Project will apply modern construction technique using some of the biggest pieces of construction machinery to build the twin mountain tunnels. 

Other than the tunnel, CP 1-1 awarded to Shimizu – Ulticon - Takenaka  joint venture involves the construction of 4-lane road with a length of 7.9 km; 3 bridges including the 200 meters Davao River Bridge with on-going foundation works; 2 underpasses and overpasses; 12 waterways culverts; and 4 at-grade intersection. 

This contract package costing ₱13.230 Billion has an estimated completion date of January 2024. 

Davao City Bypass Road Project is divided into six (6) CPs namely the on-going CP 1-1, and CP 1-2 and CP 1-3 under procurement stage being financed by loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) while CP 2-1, CP 2-2 and CP 2-3 are to be funded by Government of the Philippines.

The bypass road will slash travel time between Toril, Davao City and the northern Panabo City, Davao Del Norte to under 49 minutes from the usual travel time of 1 hour and 44 minutes via Maharlika Highway.

Overall on-site construction supervision of the Davao City Bypass Project is under DPWH Project Manager Joselito B. Reyes and Engrs. Juan M. Diña Jr. and Earl Nicholas F. Rada with Nippon Koei – Katahira - Nippon Engineering - Philkoei as engineering consultants. (DPWH)