THE DEADLY landslide that struck Quezon, Bukidnon, on Oct. 18 is now hemorrhaging the regional economy, resulting in losses estimated at P187 million daily — roughly a 1.19 percent drop in Northern Mindanao’s gross domestic product (GDP).

CONCRETE STEPS TO SAFETY. DPWH workers construct the P1.1 million concrete step ladder at the Sitio Kipulot landslide site in Quezon, Bukidnon. The ladder, complete with handrails and solar lights, will ease the difficult transit for commuters traveling the Cagayan de Oro-Davao route. Photo courtesy of DPWH-10

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-10), the financial damage is compounding rapidly. Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño warned that if traffic disruptions persist until Dec. 31, economic losses could balloon to P14.07 billion.

In a worst-case scenario, Cariño said losses could reach a staggering P48.19 billion if the rehabilitation of the vital highway portion linking Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Bukidnon is not completed by June 30, 2026.

“The more delay, the more losses we will have,” Cariño told reporters.

The cost of logistics

A study by regional socio-economic planners revealed that the collapse of the six-lane highway in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao, has forced heavy cargo to take drastic detours.

While the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-10) has opened a diversion road near the collapse site, DPWH-10 spokesperson Roshelle Novie Cabrido noted that only light vehicles can pass through.

This forces big container trucks to use alternative routes via San Fernando to Talaingod, or the Kabacan-Digos route. These detours add 60 to 100 kilometers to every trip.

Consequently, truckers are incurring P132 million in daily additional travel, fuel, and logistical costs.

“The increased fuel and logistical costs are likely to drive up consumer prices,” Cariño warned.

Farmers hit hardest

The agricultural sector is bearing the brunt of the crisis. The study highlighted that local vegetable farmers and vendors face substantial losses due to “double handling” of crops — paying porters to manually transfer goods across the damaged section — and the spoilage of perishable goods due to delays.

Delays in transporting high-value crops like carrots and lettuce are estimating to cost the sector P55 million a day in damages.

The highway originally collapsed last month, claiming the lives of an elderly couple when the tricycle they were riding was swept away. The DPWH has since constructed a concrete access ramp to assist commuters transferring between buses on either side of the damage.