Last August 2012 and January 2013 (see here), we have provided an update regarding the status of Kaybiang Tunnel. This article is the final update of the tunnel that serves as the gateway to the once hard to reach areas of the western coves of Southwest Luzon which is home to serene beaches and magnificent sunsets.
Before the construction of this tunnel, if you wish to reach the far reaches of Maragondon, Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas coming from Manila; you have to go all the way south to Tagaytay City via the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway and turn back north to Nasugbu Batangas and to the unpaved and sandy roads of Patungan cove. The reason behind that is because the Palay-Palay mountain range to which Mt. Pico De Loro and Mt. Marami is part of, guards the majority of the plain flat lands of Cavite from impending storms and southeast monsoon thus blocking the access to the other side of Maragondon, Cavite.
After a construction that took almost 4 years to complete, last July 1, 2013, the Philippine's longest tunnel as of yet was opened. Piercing a hole at the northern portion of Mt. Pico De Loro, Maragondon's Patungan Cove and Nasugbu can now be accessed coming from Manila through this tunnel without going around Tagaytay City. From 4 hours of travel to Nasugbu, via this tunnel, it can now be accessed for only almost 2 hours.
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| Ternate, Cavite Side of the Tunnel (West Entrance) |
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| Maragondon, Cavite side of the tunnel facing SouthWest Luzon |
Kaybiang Tunnel's vertical clearance is 4.85 meters and is about 300 meters in length and has completed the Ternate Nasugbu Highway loop for Southwest Luzon.
The major difference aside from its completion last July 1 is that the Patungan Cove is now privately owned and is being developed by a businessman named "Virata". Thus the once residents of this beautiful beach has been relocated elsewhere and the road to Barangay Sta. Mercedes to where Patungan Cove is now a private road. Thus, the Ternate-Nasugbu highway loop has been moved further off the shore of Patungan. To which the new road extends from Kilometer 98 to 100 of the Ternate-Nasugbu Highway.
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| The previous loop to Patungan Cove. |
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| Instead of turning right to Patungan, you just need to go straight ahead from Kilometer 98 |
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| The now private road to Patungan Cove (dashed line) and the new Ternate-Nasugbu road loop as Schadow1 Expeditions mapped it on Openstreetmap (credits to Ed of Waypoints.ph for the heads up) |
The following are the scenery that can be seen from a different angle in retrospect from the usual view from Ternate, Cavite but now from the other side of the Palay-Palay Mountain Range.
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| Mt. Pico De Loro Summit and the Parrot's Beak (Monolith) as seen from Kilometer 98 of Ternate-Nasugbu Highway |
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| Panorama of Patungan Cove from Kilometer 99 of Ternate-Nasugbu Highway |
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| Carabao Island |
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| Tabe Bridge, serves as the Cavite-Batangas border from Luzon's southwest side. At Kilometer 100 |
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| The old road of Papaya Batangas, to which before the Kaybiang Tunnel was contructed, the road ends here. |
Resorts that can now be access faster due to the opening of this tunnel are as follows (in order of distance from Manila via Cavitex and Cavite's Centennial Highway:
- Hamilo Coast (Pico De Loro Resort)
- Punta Fuego
- Tali Beach
- Maya-Maya
- Canyon Cove
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)
all roads are already paved. the tunnel is only 300 meters and not much traffic. you'd be able to get through it in less than 30 seconds. enjoy your trip!
ReplyDeletecan we walk trough the tunnel going to the otherside?
ReplyDeleteNo it's dangerous to cross walking there are lots of motorcycle using it as racing circuit before but now I think there are guards and they won't allow you to cross if you are not book in any resort may protection sa mga resort owner
DeleteWe will be driving a sedan, is it safe to pass by this route? thanks for the info
ReplyDeleteYou cannot easily walk in the tunnel ,too much dangerous for those who have an asthma. Its lack of air inside because it is too long.
ReplyDeleteWe are planning Company outing to Patungan,can we pass the tunnel through Bus?
ReplyDeleteThe old trail that we used to hike going to Pico de Loro is now closed. Zephyr Security Agency has constructed bamboo gate along the trail somewhere in Murang Daleg. The guards with semi-automatic shotguns are guarding the gate and they do not allow anybody to pass through even those farmers who have DENR permit to develop a parcel of land in the area. The guards said that Maria Teresa Virata now owns the land. We had been hiking to Pico de Loro using this trail since 1973 and nobody is bothering us, even the nice people. As far as I know this area is a wildlife preserve and is not for sale under Proclamation #1315 & 1594. Did the government sold it to MTV?
ReplyDeleteHi!, for correction, the hole part of kaybiang tunnel is part of Maragodon Cavite, you can see it also in wikipedia, type in google Maragondon Map.
ReplyDeleteI am not asking about Kaybiang tunnel. Your reply is off the mark. My question is if the government has sold the Pico de Loro area, which is a wildlife Preserve, to a certain Maria Terersa Virata?
ReplyDelete