FACT-CHECK: Davao City Bypass project began under Aquino admin, not solely a Duterte project

CLAIM: The nearly completed Davao City Bypass Construction Project, which includes the country’s longest road tunnel, is a “Duterte Legacy.”

RATING: MISSING CONTEXT

A TikTok video posted on June 6, 2025 by user “Davao Chinito” falsely claims the Davao City Bypass Construction Project (DCBCP) is a “Duterte Legacy.” 

The video shows  the project’s mountain tunnel with an on-screen text that reads, “Longest Mountain Road in Philippines nears Completion,” followed by “Duterte Legacy.”

While the project’s construction commenced during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte and continues today, the claim that it is solely his legacy is missing crucial context.

The project began before the Duterte administration. In June 2015, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan agreement with the Government of the Philippines, then under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. This loan was to finance several projects, including the Davao City Bypass Construction Project.

Actual work on the project began in 2017, under the Duterte administration.

On June 16, 2020, the Philippines and Japan signed the loan agreement for the supplemental financing of ₱18.5 billion (¥35 billion) for the project.

On Nov. 19, 2021, then Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa attended the joint site inspection organized by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao City to witness the start of tunnel-boring activity for the 2.3-kilometer twin tunnels of the Davao City Bypass Road.

According to the DPWH, the 45.5-kilometer bypass project is divided into six packages. 

The first three (I-1, I-2, I-3), which include the 2.3-kilometer twin-tube tunnel shown in the video, are financed through the JICA loan. 

The remaining three packages (II-1, II-2, and II-3) are funded by the Philippine government. 

In parallel, the Philippine government is constructing the 15.8km portion of the said Bypass Road. 

The Ceremonial Breakthrough of the Northbound Tunnel was held on April 28, 2025 in Barangay Waan, Davao City after the completion of the excavation from opposite ends into a single tunnel. 

The New Austrian Tunneling (NATM) method was applied for the excavation and Japanese technology, know-how, and experience were utilized. 

Also, technology transfer from Japan to the local staff was carried out, contributing to the local workers’ capacity development.

The original video clip shared on TikTok was sourced from a Facebook post by user Grace Saron on June 4, 2025. Her post details an exclusive media visit to the site and correctly notes that financing for the project’s packages is a mix of JICA loans and funding from the Philippine government.

Therefore, attributing the project exclusively to the Duterte administration is misleading. The project was initiated and funded through a loan agreement secured during the Aquino administration, with multi-stage construction carrying over through the subsequent Duterte and Marcos administrations.

As of this writing, the Tiktok post has drawn 3,147 likes, 710 comments and 80 shares. Rebelyn Beyong 

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