DPWH opens new section of Bukidnon-Davao road
QUEZON, BUKIDNON—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday opened a four-lane gravel road to replace the collapsed section of the Bukidnon-Davao (Buda) highway in Barangay Palacapao here, restoring the seamless flow of vehicular traffic that was disrupted since Oct. 18, 2025 due to a massive landslide.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon declared the road open after an inspection showed it was already at least 90-percent done. Dizon was joined by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Bukidnon Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque, Quezon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III, and several other national and regional DPWH officials.
They greeted motorists who blew the horns of their vehicles as they passed through the 460-meter road.
The route was initially thought of as a detour but government engineers, according to Dizon, had recommended that this would be built as a replacement for the collapsed section of the highway.
Located just above the damaged portion of Buda road, the new highway section was built within three months after the tragedy that killed a vegetable vendor couple.
Immediate relief
The DPWH awarded a contract for P46.6 million for the new road section, funded from its quick response funds. Construction of the road began on Nov. 18 last year.
Dizon said the opening brought immediate relief to motorists after he saw long queues of vehicles waiting to cross the area via a makeshift detour established by locals.
“With this detour now open, commuters and traders traveling between Davao region and Northern Mindanao will finally have [unimpeded] access again,” Dizon said.
Zubiri lauded the DPWH for the swift response, noting how the disrupted logistics mainly disadvantaged agricultural producers in Bukidnon.
Originally, the rehabilitation of the road section was estimated to take some two years, with six to eight months for structural study and design. “Waiting that long was unacceptable,” Dizon said.
He credited the quick-fix strategy to the efforts of DPWH regional director Lillibeth Aparecio. But he said government engineers are giving two months to allow the area to settle before new interventions are planned.
Dizon said the DPWH was assisted by Japanese firm Katahira and Engineers International in developing long-term solutions for Buda road.
He said that based on structural investigation, Buda road’s Kipolot section collapsed due to prolonged water seepage, noting the absence of proper drainage along the highway.
On Friday, work for a four-inch thick asphalt overlay will start and this is expected to be completed by Sunday. The road will not be closed while work continues, he said.
With regular traffic restored along Buda road, officials expect an end to logistical problems faced by travelers and truckers that government economists estimate to result in daily economic losses of P187 million. —WITH A REPORT FROM FROILAN GALLARDO
