An official of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) disclosed on Wednesday that the agency is committed to fast track completion of the mountain tunnel in Davao City amid impacts of Covid-19 pandemic.
It is considered the first-ever long distance mountain tunnel in the Philippines with an approximate length of 2.3 kilometers right at the heart of Davao City. The mountain tunnel is part of the Davao City Bypass Construction Project.
The Davao Bypass project has a total length of 45.5 kilometers and its implementation is consists of six contracts namely Contract Packages (CP) I-1, I-2, I-3, II-1, II-2, and II-3.
The contract for the initial civil works for the Davao City Bypass Construction Project was signed on October 29, 2020 between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the joint venture of Shimizu Corporation, Ulticon Builders Inc., and Takenaka Civil Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. The contract signing signaled the start of the implementation of Contract Package I-1 for the first 10.7 kilometers (including the tunnel portion).
Kiyo Kawabuchi, senior representative for JICA Philippines, explained in an email interview said the CP I-2 and CP I-3 are under procurement while CP II-1 to II-3, are also still under procurement.
Kawabuchi also said that target date of completion is to be determined once the National Transport Policy (NTP) is issued to the contractor of CP I-1.
He added that the estimated implementation period pre-Covid-19 pandemic assumption is 37 months, however, with the ongoing pandemic and its impact, the completion may be subject for review.
“Lockdown measures and border controls which prevented the travel and movement of Japanese nationals to the Philippines at the early stages of the pandemic affected the timely processing of the contract for CP I-1,” he said.
Kawabuchi also said that the potential impacts of Covid-19 for the remaining contracts (including procurement) and during the construction phase need further study and discussion.
“Despite the challenges brought about by Covid-19, JICA together with DPWH and other government agencies, the contractors and consultants, are all committed to work together to address the pandemic’s impacts and complete the project as soon as possible for the benefit of the Dabawenyos and the entire Mindanao,” Kawabuchi said.
In a statement, JICA states that the tunnel segment is considered to be the centerpiece of the project as it would require the application of advanced tunneling technologies commonly employed in Japan for the construction of the mountain tunnel.
The Philippines is poised to benefit not only from the use of such pioneering facility but also in the knowledge and technology transfer between Japanese and Filipino engineers and workers.
Once the entire project is completed, travel time between Barangay Sirawan in Toril District, Davao City and Barangay J.P. Laurel in Panabo City can be reduced to 49 minutes from the current one hour and 44 minutes via the Pan-Philippine Highway Diversion Road.
The Davao Bypass project has been assisted by JICA comprehensively since its conceptualization in the form of technical assistance through the Master Plan for High Standard Highway Network Development and conduct of the Project Preparatory Survey, as well as the provision of Japanese ODA (Official Development Assistance) loans worth a total of JPY 58.7 billion to support the financing requirements, including the detailed engineering design, construction supervision, and capacity development components.
The project is also expected to contribute to the improvement of the transport and logistics network in the region, generate additional businesses and jobs, and boost the economic recovery of the country as part of the “Build Build Build” program of the government of the Philippines.
The “Davao Bypass” (south and center section) project is among the seven out of 25 ongoing project loans of JICA as of December 2019 allocated for roads and bridges or roughly 136 out of 903 billion yen loan assistance. The other ongoing roads and bridges projects that contribute to the “Build Build Build” agenda of the Philippine government include: Road Upgrading and Preservation Project, Central Luzon Link Expressway Project, Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project (Phase VI), Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project, Arterial Bypass Road Project (Phase III), and Road Network Development Project in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao.
