NIGHT OWL
Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo
Davao City — Philippines’ largest city in terms of land area — was recognized as the second most livable city in the country among the 33 highly urbanized cities in the Philippines. This was the findings of Dr. John Vianne Murcia, specialist of the University of Mindanao’s Institute of Popular Opinion.
This is impressive if you knew Davao City before the rule of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and subsequently Mayor Sara. It was far from the Davao we know now — the second safest city in Southeast Asia with a Safety Index rate of 72.5 percent and a crime index of only 27.50 percent.
In case you are in doubt, come visit and I assure you, you only need a week to fall in love with the region.
Explore the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, the white beaches of the Island Garden City of Samal, the staircase like boulders of Aliwagwag Falls or the King of Philippine Peaks.
Today, let’s explore Davao Region — a region composed of five provinces — Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental, one highly urbanized city — Davao, and five component cities — Tagum, Digos, Panabo, Island Garden City of Samal and Matti.
According to “Build, Build, Build” Czar Mark Villar, DPWH has completed a total of 1,952 kilometers of roads, 345 bridges, 437 flood mitigation structures and 13,485 classrooms in Davao Region.
1. The Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project
Included in the Mega Bridge Masterplan, the 3.86-kilometer Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project will connect the Island Garden City of Samal to Davao City across the Pakiputan Strait. The main bridge, spanning 1.62-kilometer long, will be designed in a cable-stayed structure with the twin towers and double cable planes.
- Davao City Coastal Road
DAVAO CITY Coastal Road including Bucana Bridge
When the 18.5-kilometer Davao City Coastal Road is completed, travel time from Toril to Downtown will be reduced from 45 minutes to only 15 minutes. The project is expected to benefit 7,500 motorists per day.
- Tagum City Flyover
TAGUM CITY Flyover
The 1.6-kilometer Tagum City Flyover is constructed at the most strategic intersection of Tagum City — catering to the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental. It eases the congestion in two national roads: Daang Maharlika or Agusan-Davao Road and Surigao del Sur-Davao Road.
- Island Garden City of Samal Circumferential Road
SAMAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL Road
Curious about the Vanishing Island? Drive through the about to be completed Samal Circumferential Road and witness half of Sanipaan Shoal emerge as a sand bar during low tide and vanish during high tide. You can also rapel at Bito Depression or explore one of 70 caves in the island.
- Davao City Diversion Road Extension to Toril, Bangkal-Talomo-Puan Section
DAVAO CITY Diversion Road Extension to Toril, Bangkal-Talomo-Puan Section
When the 1.140-kilometer road project is completed, the new diversion road will decongest Barangay Talomo Road and reduce travel time from Diversion to Toril Road by half — from 30 minutes to only 15 minutes.
- Modular Hospital in Davao
To lessen the congestion of Southern Philippines Medical Center, DPWH, in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Davao, built a modular hospital fit to cater symptomatic patients.
- Davao City Metropolitan Bike Lane Network
DAVAO CITY Metropolitan Bike Lane Network
The 43-kilometer bicycle lane network will be completed within the year in Davao. At least 1.56 kilometers has already been installed along Roxas Boulevard; 4.80 kilometers along Davao-Cotabato Road (Magallanes, Governor Generoso Bridge to Matina Crossing, Solariega to Bago Bridge); 1.50 kilometers along Quezon Boulevard; and 1.11 kilometers along Sandawa Road.
- Matanao-Padada-Kiblawan Road
MATANAO-PADADA-KIBLAWAN Road
The 58.554-kilometer expressway will start Junction Padada, traverse Colonsabac, Datal Fitak and end at Columbio, Kiblawan in Davao Del Sur and construct four bridges with a total length of 150-meters to provide better access to farmers planting palay, corn, coconut, banana, copra and castor beans.
- Access Road leading to Lao Integrated Farms-Mt. Apo Trail-Balutakay Waterfalls
ACCESS ROAD leading to Lao Integrated Farms-Mt. Apo Trail-Balutakay Waterfalls
Climbing the Mt. Apo or heading to Balutakay Waterfalls? Drive thru the newly-paved 19.987-kilometer road which also links Davao-Cotabato Road and Bansalan-Cotabato Road to the local roads of Bansalan.
- Construction of revetment along Tagum-Liboganon River
REVETMENT ALONG Tagum-Liboganon River
The flood control project is intended to protect low lying areas along Tagum-Liboganon river through the construction of a revetment structure.