After more than two months of construction, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) opened the detour road near a landslide site in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao, Quezon, Bukidnon morning on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
The detour road was built after a portion of the Bukidnon-Davao Road collapsed following a landslide in October 2025.
An uphill portion near the site was cleared and leveled to serve as the detour road.
According to DPWH consultants from Japan, this is the fastest and safest solution instead of repairing the collapsed section.
Before the opening, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon personally inspected the detour road, which is still at 90 to 95 percent complete.
“Magtataka kayo bakit namin inoopen na hindi pa tapos. Kasi nga P40 million pesos a day ang losses. So, sabi ko kina RD, basta madaanan na and safe iopen na natin,” Dizon said.
The damaged road had a significant economic impact because it affected the transport of agricultural products such as pineapples and bananas.
“Lahat ng pinya galing Bukidnon, saging, hindi madala sa Japan dahil nga ang shipping point ay nasa Davao. Bukidnon is the largest contributor to agriculture GDP in the country, 7.5% ang contribution ng Bukidnon kaya nung nasira po itong kalsadang ito, we were so worried na we could not ship out and ship in food from Northern Mindanao to Southern Mindanao,” Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said.
While the detour road is now open to motorists, work continues to make it a permanent road.
“Itong nakikita ninyong gravel road, gagawin tong asphalt. Mag-aasphalt overlay tayo ng hundred cm, mga ganun ka kapal ‘yun, mga 4 inches, starting Friday. Sunday night we will finish it, so by Monday aspaltado na ito,” Dizon added.
On Friday, a traffic plan will be implemented and a new drainage system will be installed to prevent future erosion and road collapse.
Dizon said although there is no allocation for the concreting of the detour road in the 2026 budget, savings from previous projects will cover necessary improvements.
“Meron naman tayong savings, alam niyo naman nuh, inutos sa atin ni Presidente for 2025 na ‘yung lahat ng mga flood control projects na hindi maayos, pina-stop niya kaya nagkaroon tayo ng significant savings from last year,” Dizon said.
