BUKIDNON Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque on October 22, called for the construction of a bridge to restore connectivity along the damaged Davao–Bukidnon road in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao, Quezon, Bukidnon.
Roque made the statement during the distribution of land titles to more than 4,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries, an event he personally attended.
He said an initial assessment showed it could take up to five years before the landslide-damaged section, which collapsed on Saturday, can be reopened to heavy vehicles.
Roque described the situation as a national concern, noting that the affected route serves not only Mindanao but also Metro Manila.
“Concern ni siya sa Mindanao, even the whole country kay ang products nga ga agi diri dili lang exclusive sa Bukidnon, ug Mindanao, even muabot sa Metro Manila muagi ani nga dalan,” Roque said.
The governor said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon personally visited the site on Tuesday for an on-ground assessment.
Roque expressed confidence that DPWH engineers would identify technical solutions to address the problem.
For now, Roque said, temporary measures will allow light vehicles to pass, but a bridge remains necessary to ensure long-term stability.
“Katong mga vehicle like prime movers dili pa gyud kaagi diha for the next five years,” he emphasized.
He also explained that a natural spring was discovered beneath the landslide area, likely formed from accumulated rainfall during the past three years of La Niña.
“Nagdevelop sya ug spring didto sa ilalom,” Roque said.
According to Roque, building a bridge could cost about P5 billion but would provide a more sustainable solution.
“Ang Panguil Bay nag spend gani ug P7 billion, mas more economic value na sya compared to Panguil Bay,” he said, adding that he would defer to the DPWH for the final decision.
Meanwhile, DPWH Secretary Dizon, in a report to this paper, said soil testing has been ordered and that restoration efforts could take up to seven months.
