Butuan By-Pass Road On Track to be Completed by Early 2021

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar inspected on Friday, November 23, the Butuan By-Pass Road project. The bypass road is a solution to the increasing volume of traffic along the Butuan City-Cagayan de Oro-Iligan (BCIR) Road which prevents fast mobility of economic goods and irate commuters to the hilt, more at present, when rainy season has begun.

"The Butuan by-pass road is an alternate route that gives commuters an escape from traffic congestion in downtown Butuan and provides faster route towards northern and south eastern Mindanao," Villar said.

The project involves road opening, road upgrading, concrete road widening, construction and widening of concrete bridges, river bank protection, reblocking, and asphalt overlay.

"In light of recent typhoons, we have to make sure that goods and services are delivered on time; that emergency situations are readily addressed because our roads are accessible anytime," Villar explained during the inspection. "Also, this is an all-weather route that surpasses flooding along the BCIR during extreme weather condition, thereby giving unhampered access from East to West."

The construction of the Butuan By-Pass road from Bancasi to Antongalon started in 2006 under PMO-PJHL (JICA Funded) as a road component for the construction of the first cable-stayed bridge in Mindanao--the Diosdado Macapagal Bridge. Succeeding implementation continue up to the present receiving a total allocation of PHP1.814.57 million and constructing 18.50 kilometers.

"We have witnessed Butuan City slowly rise to economic glory, and with President Duterte's 'Build, Build, Build' program, DPWH will continue to implement significant infrastructure facilities for the continued development of Butuan and the entire Caraga Region," Villar concluded.