Davao City Bypass Road

Davao City Bypass Road
Route information
Maintained by Department of Public Works and Highways
Length	45.5 km (28.3 mi)
Major junctions
North end	AH 26 (N1) (McArthur Highway) in Toril, Davao City
South end	AH 26 (N1) (Davao-Agusan National Highway) in J.P. Laurel, Panabo City
Location
Country	Philippines
Provinces	Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte
Major cities	Davao City, Panabo City
Highway system
Roads in the Philippines Highways Expressways List

Davao City Bypass Road is a 45.5-kilometer bypass road project–from Barangay Sirawan in Toril, Davao City to Barangay J.P. Laurel in Panabo City, Philippines. It aims to cut the travel time through both cities from 1 hour and 44 minutes to 49 minutes.[1] Its objective is to improve the transport logistics and mitigate congestion in Davao City, thereby contributing to economic and social development in Mindanao.[2]

It had an estimated total cost of ₱46.80 billion, which was updated to ₱70.8 billion. The construction supervision of the project is headed by a joint venture of Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., Katahira and Engineers International, Nippon Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd. in association with the Philkoei International, Inc.[3]

History

In 2015, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed Japanese ODA loan agreements with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines under the second Aquino administration to provide loans of up to a total of ¥33.689 billion for Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project and Davao City Bypass Construction Project (South and Center Sections).[4]

Actual work on the project began in 2017, under the Duterte administration.[5]

On June 16, 2020, the Philippines and Japan signed the loan agreement for the supplemental financing of ₱18.5 billion (¥35 billion) for the project.[6]

On November 19, 2021, DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado and Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa led in witnessing the start of tunnel boring activity for the 2.3-kilometer (1.4 mi) twin tunnels of the project. It is slated as the country's first long-distance mountain tunnel.[7][8]

In 2024, a supplemental loan of ₱14 billion was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board headed by the second Marcos administration. This sums up the total amount of project to ₱70.8 billion.[9]

Project phases and progress

The whole project will be divided into two phases with each divided into sub-phases. These are subject to revisions and changes as the project is still being implemented.[10][11][12][13]

Phase I (funded by a loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Japan International Cooperation Agency)[13]

• I-1 (10.7 km or 6.6 mi) four (4)-lane highway inclusive of 2.3 kilometer twin road tunnel. (Joint venture group of Shimizu Corporation, Ulticon Builders, and Takenaka Corporation) [11]

• I-2 (12.8 km or 8.0 mi) four (4)-lane highway has its contract agreement for the civil works underway.[10][11][12]

• I-3 (5.6 km or 3.5 mi) four (4)-lane road with one (1) bridge, two (2) cut and cover tunnels, twelve (12) culverts, and one (1) overpass.[10][11][12]

Phase II (funded by the General Appropriations Act, is subdivided into three contract packages)[13]

• II-1 (1.28 km or 0.80 mi) four (4)-lane road and (7) seven bridges. (Joint venture group of Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corporation, Wee Eng Construction Incorporation, and Coastland Construction and Development Corporation)[10][11][12]

• II-2 (3.52 km or 2.19 mi) (Consortium of AIMM Builder & Construction Supply, Nationstar Development Corporation, and China Road and Bridge Corporation.)[10][12]

• II-3 (9.7 km or 6.0 mi) scheduled for procurement this third quarter of 2024.[10][11][12]

References

1. "DPWH Accelerates Davao City Bypass Construction Project, Aims for 2028 Completion". DPWH. January 26, 2024.
2. "Davao City Bypass Project". Philkoei. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
3. "Tunneling works for Davao City Bypass Project 80% complete —DPWH". GMA News Online. 2024-04-06. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
4. "Signing of Japanese ODA Loan Agreements with the Philippines". www.jica.go.jp. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
5. Gotinga, J. C. (2019-07-12). "Davao City gets more foreign funding under Duterte". Rappler. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
6. "Dominguez: Mindanao to stay at 'front and center' of 'Build, Build, Build' program". Department of Finance. September 10, 2020.
7. "Davao City Bypass Road Starts Excavation for PH Longest Tunnel". Embassy of Japan in the Philippines. November 22, 2021.
8. "Fact Check – Davao Bypass Project Approved During Aquino Gov't, Not Duterte's". 2022-02-14. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
9. Manila, RadyoMaN (2024-02-29). "Higit P14-B na supplemental loan para sa Davao City road bypass project, inaprubahan ni PBBM - RMN Networks". RMN Networks. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
10. Baron, Gabriela (2024-04-06). "Davao City Bypass Construction Project now 80% done — DPWH". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
11. "DPWH awards contract for Davao City Bypass Construction Project to Japanese Consortium". DPWH. October 30, 2020.
12. "DPWH at Full-Speed Work for the Ambitious Project Aimed at Revolutionizing National Road Network in the Philippines". April 6, 2024.
13. Francas, Nova Mae (2024-04-12). "Mountain tunnel in city's Bypass Project nears completion: DPWH XI". Mindanao Times. Retrieved 2024-07-21.