In image: Sta. Ana Wharf Bridge along the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road

(Davao City, March 14, 2025). The Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) XI Monitoring Team inspects a total of 16 projects located in Davao City and Davao del Sur on February 13, 19-21, 2025. Of the 16 projects, 6 projects are completed, 7 projects are suspended, and 3 projects are ongoing. Site condition/availability is the top issue encountered with 6 projects affected by Right-of-Way (ROW) acquisition issues and inaccessibility of project site.

Among the projects inspected were 3 big-ticket infrastructure projects in Davao Region, particularly the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road, construction of the Ma-a Flyover along the Davao City Diversion Road, and the Davao Public Transportation Modernization Project.

The Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project is being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) XI since CY 2017. There are 7 remaining out of its 53 contract packages that are yet to be completed. In terms of length, 13.545 km. out of 17.783 km. are already constructed. For the remaining contract packages, implementation issues include inaccessibility of some contract packages due to their proximity to a school and a hospital. To avoid/minimize public disturbance, the DPWH XI is constrained to utilizing the existing access road of another contract package while awaiting the completion of adjacent contract packages to access the sections in the Agdao area. The RPMC XI recommended that DPWH XI prioritize acquiring the proposed access road near Jerome Street, Agdao, Davao City to gain access and proceed with the civil works at this portion of the project.

The construction of the Ma-a Flyover along the Davao City Diversion Road is likewise affected by site condition/availability wherein ROW issues with landowners and utility poles are encountered. The DPWH XI assured that the project is fully funded, including its ROW acquisition fund, and the project-affected persons are cooperating with the ongoing negotiations. Once the ROW is acquired, the Davao Light and Power Company has committed to immediately relocate its poles.

Moreover, the RPMC XI Monitoring Team inspected Contract Package 4 of the Davao Public Transportation Modernization Project, also known as the High Priority Bus System (HPBS), which is the Design and Build contract of its Sasa and Sto.Niño (Catalunan Pequeño) Depots. The contractor’s engineers are already reporting in the project’s temporary facility in Catalunan Pequeño for the conduct of the

Detailed Engineering Design (DED) phase. Once completed, the DEDs shall be approved by a General Consultant, which is currently being procured and targeted to be awarded by the end of March 2025.

In image: Access road at the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road which is located near a school and a hospital.
In image: Contractor’s temporary facility for the Davao Public Transportation Modernization Project Contract Package 4.
In image: Right-of-Way (land and utility poles) issues at the Ma-a Flyover Project along the Davao City Diversion Road.
In image: Informal Family Settlers at the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road.