The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced major progress on the Davao River (Bucana) Bridge Project, now entering its final phase of construction.
Slated for completion ahead of its original late-2025 deadline, this 1.34-kilometer, four-lane, six-span bridge is poised to transform mobility and connectivity in Davao City.
During a site inspection on Monday, April 28, 2025, DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, together with Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, confirmed that the project is now 85% complete. The inspection emphasized the urgency placed on the bridge’s early delivery, recognizing its vital role in accommodating the estimated 35,000 vehicles that will use it daily.
Among those who participated in the project inspection were Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno, DPWH Undersecretaries Eugenio R. Pipo Jr. and Eric Ayapana, Assistant Secretary Loreta M. Malaluan, Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Project Directors Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes, Benjamin A. Bautista, and Ramon A. Arriola III, DPWH Regional Office XI Director Juby B. Cordon, Stakeholders Relations Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario, and other staff of UPMO Bridges Management Cluster.
In his project update, Senior Undersecretary Sadain, who oversees infrastructure flagship projects funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA), disclosed that the final bridge deck connection is targeted for completion by June 2025. This schedule allows sufficient time for final works, ensuring the bridge will be ready for vehicular traffic by November 2025.
The ₱3.126-billion Bucana Bridge Project is funded through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) grant from the Government of the People’s Republic of China. It forms a crucial link along the Davao City Coastal Road, which will serve as an alternative corridor to help decongest the city’s heavily trafficked urban routes.
Structurally, the Bucana Bridge features a 480.20-meter extradosed design, with each pier supported by 10 stay cables — a modern engineering solution chosen for its strength, durability, and striking appearance, further enhancing Davao’s skyline.
The Bucana Bridge is identified as a priority under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “Build Better More” program.
Infrastructure projects like Bucana Bridge are key to achieving the vision of high-quality, resilient, and accessible public infrastructure that improves the lives of Filipinos nationwide.
Beyond easing traffic, the new bridge will unlock broader economic opportunities, connecting Davao’s east and west coastal areas, enhancing access to essential services, supporting agricultural and commercial activities, and promoting tourism across Mindanao.
It is set to become a defining landmark of the Bagong Pilipinas campaign for progress and modernity.
