We had just finished scaling Mt. Pico De Loro (see here) and the under construction Ternate-Nasugbu Tunnel is just a few kilometers away and is right time to check it out. This tunnel once completed will shorten the travel to Nasugbu, Batangas from Manila to about an hour only as compared to 3-hours via Tagaytay and motorists are eagerly waiting for this to be completed as this is the access point to the beautiful beaches of Nasugbu, Batangas.
The last time we were here was first week of August 2012 and as I talk to the guard by the construction, this will be finished by December 2, 2012. It has been a month passed that deadline and still there is no information when this infrastructure will finally be completed. Information from the internet is also scarce.
And so, we went over and checked it out. This time as I talk to the guard, he said that more likely, it will be finished by March 2013. They allowed me to access the tunnel as at the time of this writing, it is already accessible to some vehicles but is not yet recommended. I got to have the first view of the end point of Nasugbu, Batangas right where Mt. Pico De Loro is separating Ternate, Cavite from Batangas.
The Ternate - Nasugbu Tunnel is by far the longest tunnel in the Philippines at 300 meters length and is an access point to Nasugbu, Batangas from Manila via Pico De Loro at Ternate, Cavite.
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| Tunnel entrance a Ternate, Cavite side |
I am skeptical for it to be finished by March 2013 as for what I'm seeing, there is still about 3 kilometers of unpaved road from along the shoreline town of Papaya and the tunnel itself is still being filled with concrete on the roof. The safest I can assume would be June of 2013.
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| View from within the tunnel |
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| Concrete-filling of the roof of the tunnel |
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| Tunnel roof that is not yet filled with concrete |
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| Nasugbu, Batangas side of the Ternate-Nasugbu Tunnel |
As you pass the tunnel, you will be greeted with a serene view of the Patungan Cove at Sta. Mercedes.
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| Carabao Island and Mt. Mariveles at the background |
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| Newly asphalted road and a strip of Mt. Pico De Loro as you pass the tunnel |
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| New friends met from Pico De Loro who hitched with us for our roadtrip to Nasugbu |
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| Patungan Cove |
(as of Jan 5, 2013): The Ternate-Nasugbu tunnel at the time of this writing, can now be accessed by motorcycles and 4x4 vehicles (due to the unpaved area at Patungan). It is currently accessible from 8AM-5PM when there is work and the guards may forbid or allow you access depending if a concrete mixer is blocking the way to the tunnel. Beware of dripping concrete though.
(as of April 16, 2013): The Ternate-Nasugbu tunnel has been inaugurated by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III last April 4, 2013 and has been named as "Kaybiang Tunnel". Estimated completion date has been set again to July 1, 2013. Passage to the tunnel is still conditional (see Jan. 5, 2013 update above).
(as of July 1, 2013): Passage to the tunnel is now allowed. For a detailed update, see our latest article regarding the Kaybiang Tunnel here.
The road to the Ternate-Nasugbu Tunnel all the way to Papaya, Nasugbu, Batangas has been mapped and contributed to the +OpenStreetMap Philippines project for the use of drivers using their GPS Navigation System who plans to drive along this newly constructed road and tunnel.
Map
Openstreetmap Philippines Map (link)
Schadow1 Expeditions Contributions (link)
How to use for your Navigation System (link)
thanks for the info... pls do inform once its completed
ReplyDeleteWill do. Once I get back there anytime between March - June of this year. I'll be updating this article by then.
DeleteFYI'
ReplyDeleteang bayan na nakakasakop sa Pico de Loro ay Maragondon. Hindi TErnate or nasugbu
Also, patungan is a barrio of Maragondon. Please mention on your next post, Thnks!
FYI. Pico de loro is located in Maragondon, not Ternate or Nasugbu. Please mention on your next blog. Thanks. Also, patungan is a barrio or Maragondon.
ReplyDeleteThanks bumble bee for the clarification. Pico De Loro (the resort) is already at Nasugbu. However the mountain itself has part of it in Ternate (the DENR Jumpoff), the basecamp to the summit is Maragondon and the summit to the Nasugbu jump-off is Nasugbu)
DeletePatungan Cove is indeed a part of Sta Mercedes, a barrio in Maragondon.
The mountain you mentioned (DENR jump-off) is Mt. Palay-Palay (covering 3 towns-Nasugbu, Ternate & Maragondon). Pico de Loro is located (only) in Maragondon. Also for clarification, Kaybiang Tunnel is located at Sta Mercedez, Maragondon Cavite (refer to Google Map). Maybe, it is just being mis-interpreted as located in Ternate because the road is called Ternate-Nasugbu road.
DeleteThe peaks which includes Pico De Loro, Palay-Palay, Dos Picos, Naligang is from the same mountain range called Palay-Palay Natural Park which incidentally passes through those mentioned 3 towns. However if you are referring to Palay-Palay peak, this is only the 648MASL peak which is located at Ternate right at the south of Caylabne bay while the Pico De Loro Peak 664MASL is located right at the Maragondon-Nasugbu border. You are correct that the Kaybiang tunnel (originally called as Ternate-Nasugbu Tunnel) is located at Brgy Sta. Mercedes at Maragondon which was only called as the latter due to it connecting the Ternate-Nasugbu Highway. I was the one who contributed the information you see on Google Maps and Openstreetmaps on the Palay-Palay Natural Park using NAMRIA and GNS as the basis.
Deleteano na kaya balita dito?
ReplyDeleteUpdated the article with information on the tunnel after the president's inauguration last April 4. Current condition is still "Conditionally Passable". Target completion has been moved to July 1, 2013 once more.
ReplyDeleteits now 2014, and still not passable daw?... totoo ba?
ReplyDeleteAlmost 1 year na po na bukas. Selfie capital na nga po ng Southern Tagalog ang lugar na ito.
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