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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr opened the 7.5-km Segment A of the P46.8-billion Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project on July 1
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He urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to finish the other segments “within schedule” after praising the department and project financier JICA for overcoming hurdles posed by the pandemic
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The bypass project is expected to cut travel time between Toril District and Panabo City, Davao del Norte to 30-45 minutes from between 1 hour and 45 minutes and 2 hours
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opened the 7.5-kilometer first segment of the P46.8-billion Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project on July 1.
The project will feature the Philippines’ longest mountain tunnel, a pair of 2.3-km-long tubes, which is expected to cut travel time between Davao City’s Toril district and Panabo City in Davao del Norte to between 30 and 49 minutes from one hour and 45 minutes to two hours currently.
The project, which is being financed through official development assistance (ODA) loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will have three bridges, two underpasses, and two overpasses.
The President commended Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and JICA for overcoming the difficulties posed by the pandemic to complete Segment A of the project
“Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed this project slowly progress. Six years since the project began, we now stand in front of the first completed segment,” Marcos said in his speech during the launch.
He exhorted DPWH to “strive to finish the remaining segments and let us do it within schedule so that our people may reap and will truly enjoy the maximum benefits of your hard work.”
The bypass road project stretches from the Davao-Cotabato junction, passing through the coastal lines of Bago Aplaya, Talomo, Matina Aplaya (Times Beach), Roxas Avenue Section to Santa Ana Wharf, and R. Castillo.
The project aims to boost Davao City’s road network in meeting traffic demand, promote suburban development and decongest the city center. It will also serve as an alternative route to the Davao-Cotabato Road and ABS-CBN Diversion Road.
Marcos said the project forms part of the Philippines’ high-standard highway network whose goal is to connect all the country’s major islands and is envisioned to ease traffic congestion in Davao City and support economic growth that the city has been enjoying in the past.
“We expect that this will provide some relief to Mindanaoans, especially those who wish access to downtown Davao. This will help in transporting goods in and out of the city, making access to basic necessities easier for communities, for businesses and for consumers,” Marcos said.
The President cited his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, for being instrumental in introducing “high-impact” infrastructure projects, such as the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project.
He said that the road project would also address people’s need for “comfort, happiness and well-being” with its walkways, bicycle lanes, and linear parks.
Marcos said that the project embodies “well-thought-out master plans” that are visible in its features which aim to protect the city from storm surges.
He said closer cooperation and collaboration between the government and its private-sector partners are vital in making the Philippines an “interconnected and thriving” nation.
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