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Road reopens 

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron
  • DPWH XI, contractor finish construction after Bukidnon landslide 

THE DAVAO-BUKIDNON Road in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao, has been declared passable to all vehicles on Wednesday, Jan. 14, following a massive restoration effort that finished months ahead of schedule.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Senator Migz Zubiri led the inspection of the site, which previously collapsed due to poor drainage.

 Zubiri noted that the closure resulted in economic losses of nearly P40 million daily due to disrupted agricultural trade and tourism.

“What was supposed to be eight months to one year was done in two months,” Zubiri told reporters. “This is a huge relief for our agricultural goods and tourism sector.”

Dizon confirmed that while the road is now open “full force,” asphalt paving will begin this Friday and is expected to be completed by Sunday. 

To prevent a repeat of the collapse, a new drainage system has been installed to ensure water does not seep into the soil.

Local leaders emphasized that the road is more than just a local thoroughfare; it is a critical artery for national commerce. 

With multinational companies and agricultural producers relying on the route, the two-month restoration prevented a localized infrastructure failure from becoming a long-term national economic crisis.

“This will reopen the economic link that was cut between the two regions of Northern and Southern Mindanao. As NEDA pointed out, the problem here involves billions of pesos in losses, which translates to job losses and massive expenses. This is why it is very important that the road opened today,” Quezon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III said in an interview on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

The chief executive also praised the contractor and the DPWH for the speed of work.

“When the [original estimate] said five months, that perhaps included the concrete paving. They were able to do it [in two months] because they worked on it almost 24 hours a day,” the mayor added.

Bukidnon Governor Neil Roque echoed Lorenzo’s sentiments, saying he is “overjoyed”  that the DPWH overdelivered on its promise to finish construction in five months.

“This is significant because the closure had a huge effect not just on the province of Bukidnon, but on the whole Philippines, since everyone passes through here. Even the operations of multinational corporations were affected, and they pay taxes to our national government. This is a national issue, not just a provincial one, so I am very happy the DPWH finished it,” he said.

“I believe prime movers (heavy trucks) can now pass. This is only the first phase of the DPWH project; the next phase is asphalting to ensure a smooth drive. If we leave it as it is, the road will become rugged and full of potholes once the rainy season begins,” Roque added.

Photo from Quezon LGU

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K9 superheroes: Miyuki, Venom, and team pinpoint couple buried in Bukidnon landslide

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

THE HEARTBREAKING five-day search operation in Bukidnon concluded with a tragic discovery, made possible by the unwavering precision of a specialized K9 unit. 

The bodies of the missing couple, Ely and Thelma, who were buried when a portion of the Bukidnon–Davao Road collapsed on Oct. 18, 2025, were finally recovered.

Their location, hidden beneath approximately 10 meters of soil, was first pinpointed by Miyuki, a rescue dog from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Opol, Misamis Oriental.

The victims were found in a poignant final embrace, a moment that underscored the tragedy of the disaster.

The all-star search-and-rescue team

Miyuki and its dedicated handler, Dionisio Montemayor Jr., played a crucial role in bringing the search to a close.

They worked alongside other search and rescue (SAR) teams and a dedicated K9 contingent, which included three other highly trained dogs: Venom, Bella, and Paul, provided by the 403rd Infantry Brigade and the 10th Infantry Division.

This successful retrieval highlights the critical and life-saving role of specialized K9 units, often referred to as the “superheroes” of disaster response, whose keen senses enable recovery efforts where human sight cannot penetrate.

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News

Bukidnon landslide may deter northbound travelers from Davao terminal, manager says

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

THE RECENT road collapse in Quezon, Bukidnon, is expected to shift passenger traffic away from traditional northern routes at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT), according to Terminal Manager Aisa Usop.

Speaking at the Davao Peace and Security press briefing on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Usop noted that the landslide, which occurred on Oct. 18, may change travel patterns leading up to the holiday season.

“We have noticed that there might not be as many passengers going to CDO [Cagayan de Oro] due to the landslide that happened in Quezon, Bukidnon,” Usop said. “Usually, the majority of our passengers are headed to Cagayan de Oro City. But because of the landslide, our passengers might instead shift to our southbound area and travel to their provinces there.”

Transfer point 

Usop explained that travel time for the Davao-to-Cagayan de Oro route remains officially 24 hours, but the key issue lies in the damaged section in Bukidnon, where passengers are forced to transfer vehicles.

This transfer has led to a major complication, she said.

“That is our observation,” Usop continued. “It’s because when they reach that part of Quezon, Bukidnon, our passengers have to transfer. According to our bus staff from Rural [Bus], the passengers will likely go for a hike.”

The DCOTT manager acknowledged the inconvenience of transferring—especially for those carrying heavy baggage—could reduce the number of travelers heading north. 

“That is the other side. There is also a possibility that passengers will still flock there because of the young people who still enjoy traveling to that area,” Usop said. “So, I cannot yet predict whether the number of passengers going to Cagayan de Oro City will decrease or increase.”

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News

2 missing in Bukidnon landslide

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

SEARCH and retrieval operations are still ongoing at the landslide site in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao, Quezon, Bukidnon, for a missing couple believed to have been buried in the debris.

The missing individuals were identified as Ely Ubatay and Thelma Ubatay, residents of Purok 9, Kahusayan, Kitaotao, Bukidnon, according to the report of RMN Malaybalay.

 A “bao-bao” (three-wheeler), believed to be the vehicle used by the couple, was found submerged under the soil.

A joint team composed of personnel from the Quezon Municipal Police Station and MDRRMO, the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Municipal Engineering Office (MEO), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and barangay tanods continues to comb through the dirt and debris.

Road closure and DPWH mobilization

The landslide has completely blocked the Bukidnon-Davao City (BuDa) Road in Palacapao, Quezon, rendering it impassable to all vehicles. The road in Kipolot remains shut down while the extent of the damage is assessed.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon mobilized teams to the site and ordered the immediate temporary closure of the road, following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure the mobility of motorists and the movement of essential goods between the two provinces.

Alternative diversion routes

Motorists traveling between Bukidnon and Davao City are advised to avoid the BuDa Road and take the following alternative routes. The DPWH emphasized that different routes must be utilized based on vehicle type:

For Heavy Vehicles (Trucks)

Maramag to Digos City: Take the route via Camp One- Damulog – Carmen- Kabacan-Matalam – Kidapawan -Bansalan – Digos City.

For Light Vehicles (Cars, Buses, etc.)

Valencia City to Tagum City/Panabo City: Take the route via San Fernando- Talaingod -Kapalong- Tagum City / Panabo City.

Cagayan de Oro City to Tagum City: Take Junction Sayre Highway in Poblacion Valencia City, Bukidnon via Kapalong – Talaingod – Valencia Road.

Camp 1 Maramag to Davao City: Take Junction Bukidnon-Davao City Road to Cotabato Boundary to Carmen to Kabacan to Matalam to Kidapawan, Cotabato, then Digos City, Davao.

The DPWH noted that the Butuan-Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Road (BCIR) remains the safest and most reliable alternate route for all types of vehicles traveling between those major points.

Mayor rues impact

In an interview with RMN Malaybalay on Sunday, Quezon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo expressed concern over the economic damage caused by the massive landslide that has severed the primary route connecting the region to Davao City.

The Mayor emphasized that the economic consequences are significant due to the halt in the flow of goods and people.”The economy is truly affected, especially the movement of people,” Mayor Lorenzo said.

 “Although there are alternative, temporary ways to get through, the biggest impact is on the supply shipments heading to Davao and coming here. We need the DPWH to find a permanent way forward.”

Lorenzo stressed the urgent need to establish a sustainable route.”That is what I am waiting for. I want to ask if they can finish a diversion [road], but I primarily want to know if they can at least make the original route passable,” he stated.

The mayor noted the significant cost and effort already expended on the road, suggesting that the damage is extensive. 

“A large portion of this road had already been excavated by the DPWH, but it appears to have been eroded by water underneath,” he said.

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