By Ashley Karen
The Department of Public Works and Highways takes the Davao City Bypass Road Project to the next phase to build a 2.3kilometer mountain pass at the cost of $274 million approximately.
A consortium of Shimizu Corporation, Ulticon Builders, and Takenaka Civil Engineering & Construction was awarded the contract on Oct. 29th to finish the project within three years timeframe, expanding a link between the Barangays of Sirawan and J.P. Laurel in Panabo City. The construction of the bypass section in Davao’s Magtuod district will include tunneling through mountains.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), cooperating with DPWH, claimed high-tech tunneling technologies would be applied to deliver the project. Upon completion, the bypass will improve the transport of goods as well as commutes, traffic decongestion, and boost the agro-based industry in the city.
The JICA plays a vital role in the project funding “financing requirements, including the detailed engineering design, construction supervision, and capacity development components,” technical assistance in addition to developing the project idea.
