The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is pushing for the early completion of the country’s first long-distance mountain tunnel designed to boost connectivity and accessibility in Davao City.
Senior undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in charge of DPWH Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs), said the 45-kilometer Davao City Bypass Construction Project has achieved significant progress in the construction of the 2.3-kilometer twin mountain road tunnel and part of the 10.7-kilometer project marked as Contract Package I-1.
According to Sadain, the Davao City Bypass Construction Project is a breakthrough project in the advancement of the national road network of the country under Bagong Pilipinas. The bypass road will begin in Barangay Sirawan, Toril, Davao City, and end at Barangay J.P. Laurel in Panabo City.
The Unified Project Management Office – Roads Management Cluster I (UPMO-RMC I) and joint venture contractor Shimizu-Ulticon-Takenaka have completed 80 percent of the tunnel excavation activities and now doing concrete lining and waterproofing at north and south portals of the tunnel.
The project cost of P13.23 billion under Contract Package I-1 is financed by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It is one of three contract packages with Package 1 targeted for completion by the first quarter of 2025.
Contract Package I-3 will complement Contract Package I-1 involving the construction of a four-lane 5.6-kilometer road with a bridge, two cut and covered tunnels, 12 culverts, and one overpass which started civil works in December last year. Civil works have begun in Contract Package 1-2 following the Letter of Acceptance and the Notice of Award issued in November 2023.
Another section of the bypass project under Package 2 is funded by the government subdivided into three packages.
At 36 percent complete and seen completed in the first quarter of 2026, Contract Package II-1 requires the construction of a four-lane 1.28-kilometer road and seven bridges with a total length of 1.26-kilometers under contract with the Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corporation in joint venture with Wee Eng Construction Inc., and Coastland Construction and Development Corporation.
Contract Package II-2 covers the 3.52-kilometer component of the bypass project and with the consortium of AIMM Builders & Construction Supply, Nationstar Development Corporation, and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) posting a civil work accomplishment of 14 percent from their mobilization in August 2023.
The remaining 9.7-kilometer road and bridges under Contract Package II-3 completing the Davao City Bypass Project is scheduled for procurement in the third quarter this year.
The Davao City Bypass Project costs P46.80 billion. Its construction is supervised by the joint venture Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., Katahira and Engineers International, Nippon Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd. in association with the Philkoei International, Inc.
