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Constructing the first road tunnel in the Philippines

Rafhaela Reclosado
Nov 14, 2020
2 min read

TUNNEL. One end of the planned 2.3-kilometer tunnel through the mountainous section of Barangay Magtuod in Davao City. The first ever long-distance mountain tunnel in the country, it will be part of the Davao City Bypass Road Project. It will be a joint venture between the Department of Public Works and Highways and Japanese engineering companies. Illustration courtesy of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. © Tapia, Mindanao Gold Star Daily

On November 4, 2020, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced the building of the Philippine's first-ever long-distance mountain tunnel as part of the Davao City Bypass Road Project.

The project aims to connect barangays Sirawan in Davao City and J.P. Laurel in Panabo City. Thus shortening the travel time of 1 hour and 44 minutes to 49 minutes via the existing Pan-Philippine Highway Diversion Road. The road tunnel would run through the mountainous section of Barangay Magtuod in Davao City.

Not only does the project hope to quicken the interregional transport of goods and services through the city, but it also aims to reduce transport cost of products to customers, to mitigate congestion in the urban center, and to provide a more reliable and efficient flow of goods, services, and support to the growing agro-industrial sector. Once this project comes through successfully, the road tunnel would provide better access to and from major parts in Davao Gulf, including Sasa Port in the city and Davao International Container Port in Panabo City.

Based on the report released by the DPWH, it is said that through the establishment of this road tunnel, the west and east side communities would be able to unite as the mountain hindering them from meeting up would give way for the new road tunnel to come.

Since this is the first-ever long-distance mountain tunnel establishment in the Philippines, some advanced tunneling technologies used in Japan will be brought over to Davao.

Through the contract signing that took place on October 29, 2020 between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the DPWH, the joint venture of Shimizu Corporation, Ulticon Builders Inc., and Takenaka Civil Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd., the agencies ensured their union on the building of the highway.

According to the DPWH, the project was given a timeframe of three years until the first segment or the package I-1 of the 45.5-kilometer bypass road project would be established.

The entire bypass road is said to be divided into packages, respectively: package I-1 (10.7 km), package I-2 (12.8 km), package I-3 (6.1 km), package II-1 (2.7 km), package II-2 (3.5 km), and package II-3 (9.7 km).