Philippines' longest road tunnel: What you need to know

Manila: The Philippines is on the verge of a historic infrastructure feat, as the excavation of the country’s longest road tunnel nears completion, it was announced by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

A senior agency official stated on Thursday that the tunneling phase of the Davao City Bypass Construction Project will achieve a long-awaited “breakthrough” by the second quarter of 2025.

Emil Sadain, DPWH Senior Undersecretary, said the excavation works are 95 per cent complete for the north-bound tunnel and 85 per cent complete for the south-bound segment. 

The engineering marvel is slated to be the longest road tunnel in the country, according to the official Philippine News Agency.

Twin-tube passage

Once completed, this twin-tube tunnel will slice through the rugged mountains of Davao, slashing travel time between Toril, Davao City, and Panabo City from nearly two hours to just 49 minutes.

Collaboration

The project, backed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), carries a price tag of Php46.8 billion ($800 million).

On-site inspections by DPWH officials and Japanese dignitaries, including Ambassador Kazuya Endo, highlight the project's significance as a “flagship” infrastructure venture under the Marcos administration.

Looking ahead

With excavation wrapping up soon, the next stages will focus on tunnel finishing, roadway construction, and final safety measures. 

Once operational, this game-changing infrastructure will provide safer, faster, and more efficient travel in Mindanao, and help drive growth of new economic hubs.

It will also solidify the position of Davao as a key regional growth centre in Mindanao, a major island with an area bigger than Switzerland and the Netherlands put together.

The mega-project also forms part of the Philippine Development Plan aimed at enhancing national connectivity to promote growth and improve the movement of people and goods across the country. 

Mega-projects 

The Davao tunnel joins the ranks of other flagship infrastructure projects reshaping the nation’s transportation landscape:

Metro Manila Subway: Dubbed the “Crown Jewel of Philippine Mass Transport”, this 33-kilometer underground railway will be the country’s first subway system, cutting travel time from Valenzuela to NAIA from over an hour to just 35 minutes. It is projected to serve 370,000 passengers daily upon its partial opening in 2027.

North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR): This 147-km railway will seamlessly connect Metro Manila to Clark, Pampanga, and Laguna, slashing travel time for thousands of daily commuters. The NSCR, co-financed by JICA and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is expected to handle up to 800,000 passengers per day upon full operation.

Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX): The 8.9-km long CCLEX is the longest bridge in the Philippines, linking Cebu City to Mactan Island. Opened in 2022, this stunning structure not only boosts tourism and trade but also significantly eases traffic congestion in the bustling region.

Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge: The $3.91-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge planned to cross Manila Bay is set to cut travel from 5 hours to a few minutes between the two provinces, bypassing Manila. it is estimated to cost $3.91 billion (about Php219.31 billion), as per updated data from the Department of Finance.

New Manila International Airport: A new $14-billion airport is under construction in a 2,500-hectare facility north of Manila to help ease congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which has been operating beyond capacity. Local conglomerate San Miguel Corp won the bid to build the airport in Bulakan town, about 30 minutes north of Manila. It is slated to have four parallel runways, partly reclaimed from Manila Bay, able to handle up to 100-million passengers per year, making it one of the biggest aviation facilities in Southeast Asia.