THE completion of the Ulas Viaduct project has been delayed until 2026 due to issues related to the Road Right of Way (RROW) and utility poles from telecommunications companies, the Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) reported.
Dean Ortiz, spokesperson for DPWH-Davao, said during a media forum on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Ayala Malls Abreeza, that there are seven ongoing projects within the Ulas Viaduct development. However, multiple works have been suspended due to RROW issues and the relocation of utility and telecommunication company poles.
He explained that the project crosses major roads, which means there are utility poles from Davao Light and Power Company and telecommunication companies that need to be relocated. He added that their office is in constant communication with these companies to facilitate the relocation. However, he explained that some relocations cannot be easily carried out since they would affect the surrounding community.
“No matter how much pressure we put halimbawa dili siya feasible or kung halimbawa it will paralyze the entire city, we are taking it one step at the time (“No matter how much pressure we apply, for example, if relocating the poles is not feasible or if it would paralyze the entire city, we are taking it one step at a time),” he said.
Regarding the project’s funding, Ortiz revealed that they have not yet received any, specifically the one allocated for the Ulas Viaduct project, and he admitted that the delay is impacting the project’s progress. He added that there are still ongoing projects from 2022 and 2023 that need to be completed.
However, Dean emphasized that while these delays affect the overall timeline, the DPWH is expediting construction, thus seeing the project’s completion by 2026, if the funding requirements are met and all RROW concerns are resolved.
To recall, DPWH officials appeared before the 20th City Council last April 30, 2024, to report on the project’s progress. Engineer Peter Roque, project engineer for the Ulas Viaduct, said during his report to the council that the delay was partly due to poles that had not yet been relocated by Davao Light and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
He explained that these poles serve about 100,000 customers, including the Davao City Water District (DCWD), making their relocation sensitive due to the potential power interruptions that could affect these services.
The 2.6-kilometer Davao City Diversion Road Extension project began construction in May 2015 and was initially expected to be completed by April 2016. The project will be located above the existing Davao-Toril Highway and will require the construction of a bridge upstream of the Talomo River, beside the Coca-Cola plant.
The project was suspended on June 8, 2015, due to difficulties in negotiating the acquisition of the RROW and the obstruction caused by public utilities and telecommunication posts. RGP
