The sudden opening of a major infrastructure project in Davao City has sparked surprise and safety concerns from a key local official. Councilor Jopet Baluran, who chairs the committee on transportation, was taken aback by the apparent forced opening of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Segment B (Tulip to Roxas) to the public on Friday, December 19, 2025.
Councilor's On-Site Inspection Reveals Safety Gaps
To verify reports, Baluran personally drove the new stretch before a council session. He immediately noted significant issues. "We saw that the safety measures still really need to be worked on. Even on the left side, the canal at the exit is still very open," Baluran stated in a media interview at the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Thursday morning, December 19.
He expressed confusion over the circumstances, recalling that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had previously decided against opening the segment. Baluran argued that construction should be finished first, as allowing traffic would complicate ongoing work and slow progress. He also revealed that the DPWH had not coordinated with his office regarding the opening.
Traffic Office Announces Opening with Restrictions
Contrasting the councilor's shock, the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) formally announced the opening of Segment B on the same day. The office confirmed that two lanes in each direction are passable but imposed several restrictions:
- No left turn onto M.L. Quezon Boulevard from the coastal road.
- No left turn from Quezon Boulevard onto the coastal road heading to Roxas.
- A ban on heavy trucks using the new road.
As of the report, the DPWH has not issued an official statement explaining the decision to open.
A Road Marred by Delays and Early Criticism
The opening follows a series of delays and public scrutiny. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during an inspection on December 4, 2025, announced the segment would open on December 15 to ease holiday traffic. However, the DPWH-Davao Region postponed it first to December 16.
This postponement came after Acting Mayor Sebastian 'Baste' Duterte criticized a potential partial opening as premature and unsafe. The latest opening on December 19 appears to have proceeded despite these earlier reservations.
Motorists Experience Speed and Snarls
Early user feedback on December 19 was mixed. Commuter JM Sarabia reported a smooth and fast trip from Ecoland Junction, praising CTTMO personnel for managing traffic. "Hopefully, the repair of this project will be finished sooner so that the traffic experienced by Dabawenyos will also be reduced," he said.
However, he and cyclist Prince Anthony Agustin both noted heavy congestion near the Roxas exit. Agustin observed ongoing construction on sidewalks and bike lanes, with trucks still present. The bottleneck was caused by only one lane being used for both entering and exiting traffic at that point.
The 4.453-kilometer Segment B is a crucial link from Matina Aplaya to Roxas Avenue, connecting Segments A and C and feeding into the Bucana Bridge over the Davao River. Its operational status remains a point of contention between rapid public access and ensuring complete, safe construction.
