THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that Contract Package I-1 of the Davao City Bypass Construction Project (DCBCP) is now 60.50 percent complete as of June 2025, marking significant progress on the project’s most complex segment.
Contract Package I-1 includes the construction of a 7.9-kilometer, four-lane road; twin two-lane tunnels spanning 2.3 kilometers; three pairs of bridges; two underpasses; and two overpasses. The revised target completion date is set for September 13, 2026, following design adjustments and technical refinements to address on-ground challenges.
Meanwhile, Contract Package I-2, which broke ground in December 2024, has reached a 3.35 percent accomplishment rate. This package includes a four-lane road, seven bridges, and one underpass. Strategically starting in Barangay Sirawan, Toril, this segment is expected to play a key role in traffic decongestion once the full bypass opens. Completion is projected by November 24, 2027.
Contract Package I-3, which began construction in December 2023, has reached 2.8 percent completion. The 5.5-kilometer segment will feature a four-lane road, one bridge, and two cut-and-cover tunnels. It will connect directly to the I-1 tunnel segment and traverse the mountainous terrain along the alignment. It is expected to be completed by December 1, 2026.
For phase 2 of the project, Contract Package II-1 has posted the highest progress so far with 79.70 percent completion. This section involves a 1.4-kilometer, four-lane road, and seven bridges totaling 1.3 kilometers in length—one of the highest bridge-to-road ratios in the entire bypass. Completion is set for January 7, 2026.
Contract Package II-2 has achieved 71.92 percent completion and covers 2.5 kilometers of road, seven bridges, three overpasses, and a box culvert. This segment connects II-1 to II-3 and is expected to be completed by July 24, 2026.
The final segment, Contract Package II-3, is still under procurement. Once awarded, construction will begin on a 9.3-kilometer stretch that includes six bridges, seven box culverts, and one overpass. This final phase will extend the bypass up to Barangay J.P. Laurel in Panabo City.
DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain recently conducted an on-site inspection of the DCBCP to assess its progress. He was joined by Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista of the Unified Project Management Office – Roads Management Cluster I (Bilateral) and Project Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes of the UPMO – Bridges Management Cluster.
“The Davao City Bypass is more than just a traffic solution — it’s a catalyst for regional development,” Sadain said on June 27, 2025. “By reducing congestion and significantly cutting travel time, we’re improving mobility and laying the groundwork for long-term socio-economic growth in Mindanao.”
The DCBCP spans 45.5 kilometers across five major contract packages. Once completed, the bypass will offer an alternative route connecting the Davao–Digos section of the Maharlika Highway to the Davao–Agusan National Highway in Panabo City, helping decongest urban traffic in Davao City.
The project is funded through Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) under loan agreements with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in partnership with the Philippine government. RGP