DPWH, JICA Celebrate successful connection of Southbound Tunnel in Davao Bypass

A major milestone in Philippine infrastructure was reached on Friday, August 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 the project’s South Portal in Brgy. 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 (MinDA) Undersecretary Janet M. Lopoz, and Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster I (UPMO-RMC I) Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista.

In a speech delivered during the tunnel breakthrough ceremony, Senior Undersecretary Sadain conveyed the message of DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, emphasizing that the achievement marks another critical step toward the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s goal of enhanced 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,” said Senior Undersecretary Sadain.

Senior Undersecretary Sadain further stressed that the unrelenting support from JICA reinforce the long-standing ties between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of Japan and play a vital role in advancing a more resilient and inclusive Bagong Pilipinas for all Filipinos.

 

He also underscored the significance of the infrastructure breakthrough, saying that the construction of the Philippines’ first long-distance twin-tube mountain road tunnel which features cutting-edge technologies, strongly proves the national government steadfast mission and commitment to Build Better More.

 

Also in attendance were UPMO Bridges Management Cluster Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes; DPWH Regional Office XI Director Juby B. Cordon; Stakeholders Relations Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario; Shimizu Corporation 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 XI Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division Chief Rowena P. Jamito; and UPMO Project Engineers Juan M. Diña Jr. and Engr. Earl Nicholas F. Rada.

The celebration follows the completion of the excavation works of northbound tunnel in April 2025 and marks another milestone toward the full completion of the twin-tube tunnel — each tube with a 10-meter diameter. Civil works began in December 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a series of ceremonial kick-offs 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 (4)-lane highway, the 2.3-kilometer tunnel, three (3) river-crossing bridges, two (2) underpasses, and six (6) access roads. To date, it has achieved over 61 percent and target for completion by October 2026, contributing significantly to the broader progress of the DCBCP. 

To highlight the strong partnership and shared success, the event included the traditional Japanese Kagami Wari — a ceremonial sake barrel breaking that symbolizes harmony, good fortune, and new beginnings.

 

As work progresses across the remaining five (5) contract packages of the Davao City Bypass, the latest milestone reflects the resilience, collaboration, and shared vision driving the development of a stronger, more connected, and inclusive Bagong Pilipinas.

 

Funded through a combination of JICA Loan Agreements PH-P261 and PH-P273, and counterpart funding from the Government of the Philippines, the DCBCP is presently 9.62 kilometers completed with 26.12 kilometers currently under active construction.

 

Located at the starting point of the bypass in Barangay Sirawan, Toril, Contract Package 1-2 (Sta. 0+000 to Sta. 12+800) spans 11.9 kilometers of four (4)-lane roadway with seven (7) bridges and one (1) underpass and is scheduled for completion by November 2027.

 

Contract Package 1-3 (Sta. 23+500 to Sta. 29+700) directly connects to the tunnel and features a 5.5-kilometer stretch of road, one (1) bridge, and two (2) cut-and-cover tunnels. Completion is targeted for December 2026.

 

Ahead of most others and expected to be delivered by January 2026, Contract Package 2-1 (Sta. 29+600 to Sta. 32+300) includes 1.4 kilometers of road and seven (7) bridges totaling 1.3 kilometers in length.

At the northern end of the bypass corridor, Contract Package 2-2 (Sta. 32+300 to Sta. 35+800) which is set for completion by July 2026 involves the construction of 2.5 kilometers of road, seven (7) bridges, three (3) overpasses, and one (1) box culvert.

 

Lastly, Contract Package 2-3 (Sta. 35+800 to Sta. 45+457.91) is currently in the procurement stage for the final segment of the bypass alignment that covers 9.3-kilometer stretch with six (6) bridges, seven (7) box culverts, and one (1) overpass.

 

Despite operational challenges such as shifting weather patterns and difficult geotechnical conditions, the DPWH is still steadfast in its commitment to completing the project by 2028 within the term of President Marcos.