THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to mobilize emergency engineering works on Monday to restore access along a collapsed 100-meter section of the crucial Davao–Bukidnon Road in Sitio Marahan, Barangay Marilog Proper.
Inspecting the ground collapse on Thursday morning, July 23, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon stated that the national government is prioritizing a temporary bypass for light vehicles and passenger buses to relieve stranded commuters along the vital inter-provincial corridor.
The road damage currently forces commuters to navigate a grueling 9-kilometer detour along narrow local roads, compared to the standard 3-kilometer highway route.
“Commuters are suffering because the detour is narrow and long. People have to get off buses, carry heavy baggage on foot, and transfer to other rides. We will not allow that situation to linger,” Dizon told reporters, adding that engineers are aiming to make the remaining 6-meter width of the damaged highway safely passable within a few weeks.
Immediate Relocation and Relief Support
The slope failure severely threatened nearby residential structures in Sitio Marahan.
Dizon confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed cabinet agencies to immediately extend humanitarian aid to displaced families.
The DPWH is coordinating directly with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to provide financial assistance, emergency shelter, and permanent relocation for affected homeowners.
“We will talk with the affected residents first and try to protect their homes while exploring all viable engineering interventions,” Dizon assured.
Japanese expertise
The DPWH is also preparing a permanent engineering solution for the landslide-prone segment.
Unlike typical mountain highways that sit adjacent to solid rock slopes on one side, Dizon pointed out that the damaged 100-meter stretch in Marilog is flanked by deep ravines on both sides, requiring dual-slope stabilization.
To address the complex terrain, the department has engaged Japanese structural consultants who previously engineered similar critical slope stabilization projects in Quezon, Bukidnon. Soil investigations and structural design testing will precede heavy civil works on the permanent structure.
“Our immediate priority is opening the road to traffic in a few weeks. Repairs begin on Monday, and we will announce the full construction timeline then,” Dizon said.
The Davao–Bukidnon Road is currently not passable to all types of vehicles at Purok 39, Sitio Marahan, Brgy. Marilog Proper, Davao City following a road slip that occurred on the evening of July 17, 2026, due to heavy rains.
For light vehicles, a temporary alternative route is available via:
Davao–Bukidnon Road – Datu Ladayon – Katipunan – Campo Uno.
