PUBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon inspects the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road in Barangay Beckel, La Trinidad, Benguet, on Friday. The road completely collapsed due to continuous heavy rains, causing traffic delays and slowing down motorists and commuters in the area.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of dpwh
MISAMIS ORIENTAL — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon inspected two major infrastructure projects in Northern Mindanao, outlining timelines, funding requirements and priorities for the Tagoloan Bridge complex and Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road.
During his inspection in Tagoloan, Dizon said Bridge C is targeted for completion by June 2027. The structure will provide a dedicated lane for pedestrians, bicycles and emergency vehicles, separate from vehicular traffic.
The broader Tagoloan Bridge Project, formally known as the Replacement of Permanent Weak Bridge-Tagoloan Old Bridge, seeks to replace the aging bridge built in 1968.
The project has an estimated cost of P1.3 billion, with Phase 1 costing P317 million and about 20 percent complete.
The middle span of the existing bridge will also be replaced after structural deficiencies were identified in a 2022 engineering assessment.
The bridge is a vital link between Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro and other parts of Northern Mindanao. Dizon committed to completing the entire project before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term.
P34-B coastal road
seeks foreign funding
Dizon also assessed the P34-billion Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road, a flagship project intended to ease traffic congestion, improve access to waterfront economic areas and strengthen flood protection in the Cagayan de Oro River delta.
Given the project’s scale, Dizon said the government would need foreign financing, particularly from Japan, rather than relying solely on the national budget.
About P600 million has been secured, including P220 million recently released to support the ongoing bridge component, the Macabalan-Bonbon Bridge, which is expected to be completed by early 2027.
The project includes the Punta-Macabalan section, a 339-meter road concreting project, and the 9.3-kilometer Puerto-Gusa section, a four-lane highway with viaducts and bridges targeted for completion in 2028. About P1.4 billion has been allocated for the latter so far.
The coastal road will pass through key coastal barangays, improve access to the city port and industrial areas, and serve as a flood defense corridor.
Dizon said the projects are being fast-tracked because Cagayan de Oro serves as a gateway to Mindanao.
“These projects are not just about concrete and steel. They are about connecting communities, creating jobs, and making sure that Northern Mindanao can move forward safely and efficiently,” Dizon said.
