Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri commended the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under Secretary Vince Dizon for moving quickly to restore amajor Mindanao artery that connects North and South of Mindanao and for lining up reinforcement works on a key Bukidnon bridge, deeming both as urgent for the province’s commerce, daily travel and farm economy.
During the recent Senate plenary deliberation on DPWH’s 2026 budget, Zubiri cited the partial collapse of the Bukidnon-Davao (BuDa) Highway after a landslide in Barangay Palacapao, Quezon in Bukidnon, and the traffic restrictions now in place at the Atugan Bridge in Impasug-ong while safety measures are being prioritized.
“I would like to thank Sec. Dizon for helping us out on the collapse of the Bukidnon-Davao Highway, which connects Davao and Bukidnon. It’s actually the lifeblood of commerce between Northern Mindanao and Southern Mindanao. I believe they’re working hard to already improve and open up the lanes once again,” the veteran legislator noted.
In fact, the seasoned lawmaker pegged the detour’s daily economic toll at about P50 million while the BuDa Highway remains closed.
“So I just want to put that on record because the people in Bukidnon and Davao are a bit anxious because imagine all the DOLE products, Del Monte products and Unifrutti fruits na dumadaan dito. Ito rin ang mode of transportation for all our kababayans, north and south,” the senator emphasized.
The Senate’s budget sponsor, Finance panel chair Senator Win Gatchalian, relayed DPWH’s commitment to completely repair the major road artery in about one and a half months to ease the traffic bottleneck.
Zubiri also raised the situation of the Atugan Bridge, calling attention to its age and current traffic restrictions.
“For those who are familiar with that road, that’s a very important bridge. It’s the tallest bridge in Mindanao. I heard that it needs to be retrofitted, I hope that the Secretary will be on top of the retrofitting,” he pointed out.
“For the information of everyone, the Atugan Bridge has been strong and steady for many decades now. Sana mabigyan din ng pondo ‘yan ng Secretary para sa retrofitting. Kasi right now, they only allow one truck at a time, so the traffic is built up from both sides,”Zubiri added.
He was talking about traffic regulations now being implemented by the DPWH at the Atugan Bridge, where light vehicles up to five tons or six wheels and below are allowed to continuously use both lanes, while only one heavy vehicle at a time may cross between control points.
Zubiri explained that the bridge also services the local farm economy of Bukidnon, and retrofitting it is essential to the continued delivery of products to and from the province.
He then described the repairs as a competitiveness push for Mindanao, noting that every hour shaved off moving agricultural products and supplies cuts costs, reduces spoilage and keeps local businesses thriving.
“We’re the number one producer of agricultural products in the country … And I hope with all these revelations, things will be more efficient and effective in the next few years,” Zubiri stressed.
Gatchalian assured that DPWH under Dizon has freed up almost P25 billion that will be used for the retrofit of bridges across the country, including the Atugan Bridge.
