President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. conducted a site inspection of the newly constructed Bucana Bridge in Davao City on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The ₱3.126-billion infrastructure, funded by a grant from China, is a key project aimed at decongesting downtown Davao traffic and is set to open to the public on December 15, 2025.
Official Duty, Not Politics: MinDA Chief's Clarification
Following the presidential visit, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno addressed speculations, firmly stating that the activity was part of the President's routine official duties. Speaking at a business forum in Davao City on December 5, Magno emphasized that the inspection should not be interpreted as a political event.
"The event yesterday was never a political event, which should not be addressed as something political, and that is my official stand on that matter," Magno told local media. He pointed out that President Marcos's remarks during the inspection focused on praising the Chinese contractors and the advanced engineering technology used in the bridge, highlighting its potential to spur economic growth in Mindanao.
This clarification came in response to circulating reports and social media commentary suggesting the President framed the project as part of his personal "legacy." Magno countered, stating, "It was an inspection — a job that the President does."
Bucana Bridge: A Vital Link for Davao's Future
The 480-meter, four-lane bridge is a critical component of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project (DCCBRP). It spans the Davao River, connecting Barangays 76-A Bucana and Matina Aplaya, and is expected to serve approximately 35,000 vehicles daily.
Its primary impact will be a dramatic reduction in travel time across the river, cutting a journey that once took about 1.5 hours down to just 20–25 minutes. This improvement is anticipated to significantly ease chronic traffic congestion in the city's downtown area, boost trade and mobility, and promote urban expansion along the coastal road network.
President Marcos, during the inspection, noted the bridge as part of his administration's Build Better More (BBM) program and acknowledged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the China Road and Bridge Corporation for the project's timely completion.
A Project of Continuity and Collaboration
The Bucana Bridge stands as an example of infrastructure continuity between national administrations. The project was originally conceptualized under the Build, Build, Build (BBB) program of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The funding was secured through a China Aid Grant formalized in an Exchange of Letters in November 2018, following President Duterte's state visit to China in 2017. A subsequent agreement in December 2020 locked in a grant of approximately $60 million. Construction, managed by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office, began in November 2023 after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Secretary Magno concluded that the bridge symbolizes a major milestone not only for Davao City's urban development but also for Mindanao's broader economic growth strategy, underscoring the importance of long-term planning and international cooperation.
