Closed detour snarls Bukidnon traffic, adds to mounting regional losses

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – A detour meant to keep traffic moving around a collapsed section of a vital mountain road in Sitio Kipolot, Quezon town, Bukidnon became a source of confusion and frustration on Sunday, January 4.

Closed for drainage work, the temporary route left motorists and commuters stranded in a two-kilometer-long traffic jam, many struggling through an unfamiliar path that was intended as a shortcut.

Travelers returning from holiday visits or hurrying back to work spent hours inching forward, unaware that repair crews had barricaded the route. Horns blared as engines idled under the midday sun, while drivers and passengers tapped dashboards, checked watches, and muttered complaints. Commuters said they feared missing the first workday of the year, while transport operators worried about delayed deliveries.

Lyle Justin Egay, municipal information officer, said Quezon Mayor Poling Lorenzo has appealed to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the contractor, JT Gamolo Construction Incorporated, to accelerate work on the detour, including suggestions for round-the-clock operations to ease congestion.

The 460-meter gravel detour built after a landslide on October 18, 2025 destroyed part of the highway and killed an elderly couple riding a tricycle, allowed only light vehicles until January 4.

Trucks and larger vehicles were forced to take longer alternative routes, adding 60 to 100 kilometers to trips and increasing travel, fuel, and logistics costs by an estimated P132 million per day, according to a study by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) in Northern Mindanao.

Delays and spoilage of high-value crops such as carrots, lettuce, and other vegetables are causing farmers and vendors to lose tens of millions of pesos daily, DEPDev director Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño said earlier. 

Overall, the regional economy is losing about P187 million each day, or roughly 1.19% of Northern Mindanao’s gross domestic product, with cumulative losses projected to exceed P48.19 billion if the collapsed highway is not fully repaired by June 30, 2026. The disruption is also expected to drive up local consumer prices due to higher transport costs.

Novie Cabrido, DPWH-Region X information officer, said construction work was taking place from 7 am to 5 pm daily, and additional laborers have been deployed to meet a projected opening in the second or third week of January. 

Preparatory work on drainage canals and road grading is ongoing, with the detour expected to be fully passable for heavy trucks once minor finishing work is completed.

Authorities have advised motorists to take the Bukidnon-Kapalong route via San Fernando and Valencia for light vehicles, while trucks should follow the Bukidnon-Carmen-Kabacan-Davao route. Both detours add significant travel time and costs, particularly for freight and perishable goods.

The highway collapse and extended detours have shown Northern Mindanao’s vulnerability to natural hazards, the fragility of its transportation network, and the broader economic consequences of disrupted traffic links. – Rappler.com