CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY —  Vehicles passing through Damulog town in Bukidnon could
expect delays after a portion of the highway there measuring around 100 meters cracked due to
heavy rains on Friday night that almost led to its closure

Damulog borders Carmen town in Cotabato province in Region 12, an alternative route to and
from Davao City whenever portions of the Bukidnon-Davao highway become impassable due to
damage.
Holy Robles of the Damulog Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said
engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 10 initially
inspected the site and recommended a total closure of the highway in Barangay Pocopoco.
During a meeting with Damulog town officials on Saturday morning, Robles stated that the
DPWH relented to local requests, ultimately allowing the passage of all  vehicle types.
They agreed to allow the use of the undamaged lane.
“The arrangement now is that  vehicles and cargo trucks will alternately use the remaining
undamaged portion of the highway,” Robles told MindaNews in a phone interview.
He noted that the route via Damulog remains an option after a landslide Friday led to a
temporary closure of the Bukidnon-Davao road in Barangay Marilog, Davao City.
The closure has forced cargo trucks and other vehicles to divert to Carmen, Cotabato, to reach
Bukidnon.
Earlier this month, a massive landslide also closed down the San Fernando (Bukidnon)-
Talaingod (Davao del Norte) highway – another link between Northern Mindanao and Davao
Region.

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDEV) warned that recurring
landslides and prolonged road closures mean higher costs for Mindanao’s transport and cargo
sectors.
According to the DEPDEV Region 10 office, the highway collapse in Quezon, Bukidnon last
year triggered a staggering ₱187 million in daily economic losses for these sectors. (Froilan
Gallardo/MindaNews)