A major milestone in Philippine infrastructure was reached on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) held a ceremonial breakthrough for the southbound tunnel of the Davao City Bypass Construction Project (DCBCP), marking the successful connection of its north and south ends.
The 2.3-kilometer tunnel, a centerpiece of Contract Package 1-1, forms part of the 45.5-kilometer Davao City Bypass and is the first long-distance mountain road tunnel in the Philippines. The event took place at the project’s south portal in Barangay Waan, Davao City, drawing key Philippine and Japanese officials, stakeholders and project partners.
Leading the ceremony were DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain and Undersecretary Eric A. Ayapana, joined by Second Secretary Akito Kinoshita of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Consul General Ono Hirotaka of the Consulate General of Japan in Davao, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Representative Keisuke Fukui, Mindanao Development Authority Undersecretary Janet M. Lopoz, and DPWH Roads Management Cluster 1–Unified Project Management Office Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista.
In a speech delivered during the ceremony, Sadain conveyed the message of DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, emphasizing that the achievement marks another step toward President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s goal of improved regional connectivity and national development.
“We are grateful for the unwavering support of the Government of Japan through JICA, whose official development assistance has been instrumental in achieving this milestone,” Sadain said.
Sadain further stressed that JICA’s continued support reinforces the long-standing ties between the Philippines and Japan and plays a vital role in advancing a more resilient and inclusive Bagong Pilipinas.
He underscored the significance of the breakthrough, noting that the construction of the country’s first long-distance twin-tube mountain road tunnel, which features cutting-edge technologies, proves the national government’s steadfast mission and commitment to “Build Better More.”
Also in attendance were UPMO Bridges Management Cluster Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes; DPWH Regional Office 11 Director Juby B. Cordon; Stakeholders Relations Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario; Shimizu Corp. Deputy Director Masanobu Sakamoto; Nippon Koei Director General Nobuyuki Shibasaki; UPMO project managers Joselito B. Reyes, Joweto V. Tulaylay, Emmanuel Regodon, Florence A. Sawali, Lydia Barsolaso and Najar S. Imbin; Davao City 3rd District Engineer Lilibeth M. Sarmiento; DPWH Region 11 Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division Chief Rowena P. Jamito; and UPMO project engineers Juan M. Diña Jr. and Earl Nicholas F. Rada.
The celebration follows the completion of excavation works on the northbound tunnel in April 2025 and marks another milestone toward the full completion of the twin-tube tunnel, each with a 10-meter diameter. Civil works began in December 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with ceremonial kickoffs at the north and south portals held in 2021 and 2022.
Contract Package 1-1, awarded to the Shimizu–Ulticon–Takenaka Joint Venture, includes the construction of 10.7 kilometers of four-lane highway, the 2.3-kilometer tunnel, three river-crossing bridges, two underpasses and six access roads. To date, the package is more than 61 percent complete and is targeted for completion by October 2026.
To highlight the strong partnership, the event featured the traditional Japanese kagami wari — the ceremonial breaking of a sake barrel that symbolizes harmony, good fortune and new beginnings.
As work continues across the remaining five contract packages of the bypass, this milestone reflects the resilience, collaboration and shared vision driving the development of a stronger, more connected and inclusive Bagong Pilipinas.
Funded through JICA Loan Agreements PH-P261 and PH-P273, with counterpart funding from the Philippine government, the bypass project has completed 9.62 kilometers to date, with 26.12 kilometers under active construction.
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Contract Package 1-2 (Sta. 0+000 to Sta. 12+800) covers 11.9 kilometers of roadway with seven bridges and one underpass. Completion is scheduled for November 2027.
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Contract Package 1-3 (Sta. 23+500 to Sta. 29+700) directly connects to the tunnel and features 5.5 kilometers of road, one bridge and two cut-and-cover tunnels. Completion is targeted for December 2026.
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Contract Package 2-1 (Sta. 29+600 to Sta. 32+300) includes 1.4 kilometers of road and seven bridges totaling 1.3 kilometers in length. It is expected to be delivered by January 2026.
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Contract Package 2-2 (Sta. 32+300 to Sta. 35+800) involves 2.5 kilometers of road, seven bridges, three overpasses and one box culvert. It is set for completion by July 2026.
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Contract Package 2-3 (Sta. 35+800 to Sta. 45+457.91), still in procurement, will cover 9.3 kilometers with six bridges, seven box culverts and one overpass.
Despite challenges such as shifting weather patterns and difficult geotechnical conditions, DPWH said it remains committed to completing the project by 2028 within Marcos’ term.
