Bukidnon alternate road cracks, motorists warned of safety risks

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution when passing through Poblacion, Damulog, Bukidnon, after a nearly 100-meter crack developed on a secondary two-lane concrete road following the July 17 landslide in Sitio Marahan, Marilog District, Davao City. The damaged road serves as an alternate route linking Bukidnon and North Cotabato after the Marilog landslide cut off the main highway connecting Davao City, Bukidnon, and Cagayan de Oro City. Katya Clemencio, acting chief of the Damulog Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), said on Saturday that the cracked section is located along the road leading to the town’s public market and transport terminal. READ: Road collapse cuts off major Bukidnon–Davao highway READ: Bukidnon road ‘impassable for months’ due to debris clearing Because the road runs beside a cliff, authorities initially prohibited heavy vehicles from passing due to safety concerns. Personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bukidnon 2nd District Engineering Office later inspected the area and allowed heavy vehicles to pass under a one-way, one-at-a-time traffic scheme supervised by traffic personnel. Clemencio said the national highway in Purok 8, Poblacion, connecting to North Cotabato remains impassable due to an earlier landslide, making the cracked secondary road the municipality’s primary alternate route. Earlier, Dean Ortiz, DPWH Region 11 spokesperson, said the Marilog road collapse was triggered by a landslide after weeks of continuous rainfall saturated the soil in the landslide-prone area. Motorists traveling between Davao City and Bukidnon have been advised to take the Marahan–Datu Ladayon–Matigol–Camp 1, Maramag route, which adds about 30 minutes to travel time. DPWH Region 10 advised motorists to use the Maramag–Carmen–Kabacan–Digos–Davao Road for all types of vehicles or the Campo Uno section of the Davao–Bukidnon Road for light vehicles while the Sitio Marahan road remains closed due to the road slip. Both regional DPWH offices said their engineers continue to monitor and assess the landslide area and alternate routes to ensure public safety while restoration work on the affected highway continues. /mcm