CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (January 6, 2026 – 9:28 pm) — Stalled vehicles stretching for at least two kilometers approaching the landslide area in Bukidnon have prompted the local government of the municipality of Quezon to appeal to the Department of Public Works and Highways to hasten the construction of the detour road

Lyle Justin Egay, Quezon municipal information officer, said in a phone interview that the huge traffic jam in Sitio Kipolot has alarmed Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III to meet with the DPWH Region 10 officials and JT Gamolo Construction Inc., contractor for the ₱46.6-million four-lane detour road.

Egay said Mayor Lorenzo appealed that work on the unfinished road culvert should be done 24/7 to ease the plight of travelers who are rushing back to work or going home after the holidays.

The 460-meter gravel road was built after the October 18 landslide, which caused the collapse of a portion of the zigzag road in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao in Quezon, rendering the Davao-Bukidnon highway impassable.

A temporary one-lane, steep gravel road was built for light vehicles to pass but resulted to a gridlock after the DPWH closed the detour road on Monday.

Roshelle Novie Cabrido, DPWH Region 10 information officer, told MindaNews over Messenger that the contractor, JT Gamolo Construction — of Bagontaas, Valencia City, Bukidnon — is working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. but cannot work 24/7 because it has limited manpower.

As of Tuesday, Cabrido said work at the detour road included preparations for the drainage and canal systems.

She said the contractor has fielded more workers so it can meet the deadline for the second or third week of January.

“Traffic congestion in the area remains a challenge due the ongoing activities, but the contractor is exerting all efforts to accelerate progress,” Cabrido said.

The DPWH has recommended that light vehicles bound for Davao City take the Bukidnon-to-Kapalong (Davao del Norte) route via San Fernando and Valencia City. Bigger trucks were advised to take the Bukidnon-Carmen-Kabacan-Digos route.

A study made by the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPdev) in region 10 said these alternative routes, which could add 60-100 kilometers to the trip, means an additional ₱132 million in daily travel, fuel and logistical costs for truckers.

The DEPdev in Region 10 said economic loss could reach ₱48.19 billion if the repair of the damaged portion of the highway is not completed by June 30, 2026. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

Traffic at the landslide area in Quezon, Bukidnon. MindaNews file photo by BOBBY TIMONERA