- Also cites problems of road-right-of way
- 5 years in the works, still no completion date
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The long-delayed Maa-Magtuod Flyover along Diversion Road may be partially opened to motorists by December this year, the Department of Public Works and Highways–Region 11 (DPWH-11) said over the weekend but only if utility companies accelerate the removal and relocation of electric and telecommunications posts at the site.
Speaking during the City Council’s regular session, DPWH-11 spokesperson Dean Ortiz said construction remains stalled due to unresolved right-of-way issues and pending utility relocations. Of the 41 affected properties, 29 have already been acquired, many of which host power and telecom facilities.
Ortiz noted that moving the poles — particularly those of Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) — is a complex process that could cause significant power outages across a wide area. Once the relocation is completed, he said, contractors can begin road widening and work on the flyover’s approach ramps.
“We have already acquired the properties in Monteritz. All Davao Light and Power Company and telecommunications firms need to do is move the poles outside our construction limits so we can start concreting,” Ortiz said, stressing the importance of clearing the area for road widening to give the contractor adequate working space.
Following the discussion, councilors invited DLPC and telecom firms to appear in next week’s regular session on August 19 to explain delays in relocating the posts.
The move came after Assistant Floor Leader Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr. filed a motion urging DLPC to advance the schedule for pole removal. Mahipus said hearing directly from utility providers would help secure a firm commitment for faster action.
DPWH-11 reported that the 29 secured properties were acquired in phases — two in 2023, 16 in 2024, and 11 in 2025 — while negotiations are ongoing for the remaining 12. These include parcels owned by two major real estate firms, a gas station, and one private individual.
DPWH legal counsel Alpha Faith Macailing said one key landowner has agreed to proceed with processing loan computations, adding that funds for acquisition have already been allocated. She described the property as crucial for completing the approach ramps.
Macailing also said DLPC has been coordinating with other utility providers and committed to completing the pole transfer within four months. However, the City Council is pressing for an earlier timetable in response to public frustration over the lack of progress.
Councilor Jessica Bonguyan, chair of the Committee on Public Works and Highways, said the unfinished flyover has become a daily source of stress for residents, causing heavy traffic and lengthy delays for commuters. She said the council invited DPWH to provide updates to address growing concerns.
The Maa-Magtuod Flyover Project, with a total budget of ₱2.0704 billion — ₱1.6 billion for civil works and ₱400 million for right-of-way acquisition — began in 2021. DPWH assured that the project remains a priority and expressed hope it can be completed within the year.
A more complicated project, the Bucana Bridge which is being constructed by a China Construction firm had completed the major span in the Davao City coastal boulevard. With the sluggish construction of the Maa flyover some quarters predict the Davao-Samal bridge might be completed earlier than the flyover.
