The Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) confirmed that the Davao-Samal Bridge construction remains ahead of schedule despite significant budget constraints this year. During the Habi at Kape press conference at Abreeza Ayala Malls on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, DPWH-Davao spokesperson Dean Ortiz provided updates on the project's status.
Funding Shortfall and Progress
Ortiz disclosed that the agency requested P4.86 billion from the national government for the bridge project but has only received P314 million so far. Despite this funding gap, as of June 25, 2026, the bridge had reached 61.334 percent completion, slightly exceeding the target of 61.26 percent for the period. The DPWH-Davao is actively seeking additional funding to sustain the momentum.
Addressing Online Rumors
Ortiz clarified that rumors circulating online about construction halting due to a lack of workers are false. He explained that workers may not have been visible in social media videos because they were on break at the time of filming. “The reports saying the project has stopped are not true. Anyone can visit the site to verify that work is continuing,” he said.
Work Schedule and Superstructure Focus
The regular work schedule at the project site runs from 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., with 24-hour operations in place to allow simultaneous construction across four sections of the bridge. “We are now concentrating on the superstructure since we have already installed the box girders,” Ortiz added.
Completion Timeline
Ortiz confirmed that the project's target completion date remains September 2028, though he noted that the timeline may still be subject to change due to funding constraints. The field monitoring activity by the Regional Project Monitoring Committee-Davao Region on April 7, 2026, also assessed the bridge's side navigation column.
