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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Duterte: Opening of Davao Coastal Road premature

Duterte: Opening of Davao Coastal Road premature

Published Dec 15, 2025 10:20 pm
DAVAO CITY – Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte criticized on Monday, Dec. 15, the premature opening of the Davao City Coastal Road Segment B.
He said that public safety was being compromised due to a “rushed and ill-considered decision.”
"The Department of Public Works and Highways will open only two of the four lanes of the Coastal Road to Roxas Ave. exit today (Monday), in compliance with the President's (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) earlier pronouncement on its opening," Duterte said.
Duterte said the partial opening is being carried out in response to what he called a “careless pronouncement” by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. regarding the road’s opening, despite the project being incomplete.
Duterte emphasized that Segment B of the Davao City Coastal Road remains under the jurisdiction of the DPWH as it has not yet been officially turned over to the local government unit.
He said the turnover raises safety concerns because the project is not yet finished. DPWH, he added, has indicated that full completion of all four lanes is still targeted for March 2026.
Safety concerns were heightened following an inspection conducted by the Davao City Council Advisory and Monitoring Board on Dec. 14.
During the inspection, Duterte stated that the board observed only two lanes nearing completion and that no streetlights or safety and traffic signage have been installed at the Roxas exit.
Members of the DCRPAMB questioned DPWH officials why Segment B would be opened to motorists despite its unfinished state.
Duterte said no clear or satisfactory explanation was provided.
“The integrity and safety of public roads must not be compromised simply because a deadline has been carelessly set,” the acting mayor said, stressing that infrastructure projects should prioritize public welfare over optics.
Given the partial and premature opening, Duterte advised the public to expect possible traffic congestion in the area and exercise caution when passing through the Roxas exit.
Duterte said that the DPWH would be accountable for any incident resulting from inadequate street lighting and safety measures.
He questioned the authority behind the decision to open the unfinished segment. “Do you still know how to do your job? Under whose authority was the decision made to open this unfinished coastal segment?”
Duterte said Marcos, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, were among those present during the inspection.
The acting mayor accused them of prioritizing appearances over the safety of the people of Davao.
“If they insist on opening it today, let them be,” Duterte said, adding that the President was “behaving like a child” in pushing for the opening despite unresolved safety issues.
The DPWH has yet to issue a response to Duterte’s remarks as of posting time.

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Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte Davao City Coastal Road
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