A P106-million bridge widening project along Natalio Bacalso Avenue in Argao, Cebu, has been declared complete by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), yet remains inaccessible due to the apparent absence of connecting road approaches. The unfinished access roads have sparked fierce criticism online, with netizens questioning the project's usability.
Project Details and Status
Documents obtained by SunStar Cebu reveal that the project, under contract ID 22H00013, was signed on March 7, 2022, and awarded to QM Builders with an initial bid of P104,557,750. Funding came from the Regular Infrastructure budget under the General Appropriations Act of 2022. According to the DPWH Project and Contract Management Application Web, the bridge is officially finished, listing a final total contract cost of P106,149,994.48. The project took effect on March 11, 2022, and was originally scheduled to end on August 12, 2023, after a 276-day construction timeline.
Public Outcry and Unanswered Questions
Photos of the apparently unfinished, blocked-off bridge have gone viral on social media. Netizens are demanding answers after noticing that the massive structure completely lacks proper connecting roads on both sides. Despite being marked as 100 percent complete, it remains entirely blocked off to traffic.
One online commenter said, "Dugay nang nahuman pero di pa magamit kay wala pa'y approaches? Decoration lang?" (It's been finished for a long time, but it still can't be used because there are no approaches yet? Just for decoration?). Others expressed concern over the budget allocation and long delays, with some worrying the bridge might decay before opening, leading to further taxpayer expenses.
SunStar Cebu has repeatedly reached out to both the Municipality of Argao and DPWH 7 via Messenger and email since Monday, May 25, 2026, but inquiries have gone unanswered.
Timeline of the Stalled Project
Satellite and street-level imagery track the long history of the stalled project:
- November 2022: Construction equipment and materials arrive at the site.
- July 2023: Active repair and development works are visibly ongoing.
- September 2024: The main concrete structure of the bridge is fully built.
- May 2025: The bridge sits empty, with no approach roads constructed on either end.
What Happens Next?
As it stands, vehicles traveling in and out of Argao are forced to bypass the new structure entirely. Until DPWH 7 or local officials break their silence and explain why the connecting roads were left out, this P106-million piece of infrastructure will remain a bridge to nowhere.
