Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Friday praised the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under Secretary Vince Dizon for restoring the Bukidnon–Davao (BuDa) Highway and initiating reinforcement work on Atugan Bridge in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.

During the Senate plenary deliberation on DPWH’s 2026 budget, Zubiri highlighted the partial collapse of the BuDa Highway in Barangay Palacapao, Quezon, Bukidnon, caused by a recent landslide.

Traffic restrictions remain in place at the Atugan Bridge as safety measures are implemented.

“I would like to thank Sec. Dizon for helping us out on the collapse of the Bukidnon-Davao Highway, which connects Davao and Bukidnon. It’s actually the lifeblood of commerce between Northern Mindanao and Southern Mindanao. I believe they’re working hard to already improve and open up the lanes once again,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri noted the economic impact of the highway closure, estimating a daily toll of about P50 million due to delays in transporting commercial goods, including agricultural products from Bukidnon.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee, reported that DPWH aims to complete the BuDa Highway repair within approximately one and a half months to ease congestion.

The Atugan Bridge, the tallest bridge in Mindanao, currently allows continuous passage for light vehicles under five tons, while heavier vehicles cross one at a time.

Zubiri called for funding to retrofit the bridge to ensure its continued structural integrity and support the local farm economy, lamenting that “every hour shaved off moving agricultural products and supplies cuts costs, reduces spoilage, and keeps local businesses thriving.”

Gatchalian further assured that DPWH has allocated nearly P25 billion for bridge retrofits nationwide, including the Atugan Bridge, as part of ongoing infrastructure improvements across the country.