The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is making significant progress on the Bucana Bridge Project — a key component of the Davao City Coastal Road — which aims to ease traffic congestion and enhance regional connectivity throughout the Davao Region.
In his inspection report to Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain — who oversees DPWH flagship infrastructure projects under the “Build Better More” programme — confirmed that the China Aid Localised Project for the Davao River Bridge, commonly known as the Bucana Bridge Project, is on track for full completion by the last quarter of 2025. The project has now reached 92.3 percent construction progress.
“The Bucana Bridge construction is moving steadily with about 3 to 4 percent progress each month and we expect it to be 95 percent complete by July 2025. This bridge is important because it connects to the Davao Coastal Road, making travel in and out of Davao City faster and easier, and strengthening the overall road network in the Davao Region,” said Senior Undersecretary Sadain.
The Bucana Bridge Project features a four-lane, six-span extradosed bridge stretching 480.20 metres across the Davao River. The total project length reaches 1,340 metres when including the approach roads.
Bucana Bridge is more than just an infrastructure project — it stands as a symbol of international cooperation and shared commitment to inclusive and sustainable development under the “Bagong Pilipinas” vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
With a contract cost of ₱3.126 billion, the project is funded through a China Aid Grant under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme from the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
Senior Undersecretary Sadain visited the site on 27 June 2025 to assess ongoing construction progress and provide technical insights. He was joined by Project Directors Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes of the Unified Project Management Office – Bridges Management Cluster (UPMO-BMC) and Benjamin B. Bautista of UPMO – Roads Management Cluster I, along with the Bucana Bridge Project Team led by Acting Project Manager Norifel Teddie G. Cadiang and Project Engineer John Christian T. Gaden.
Representatives from the project contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation, as well as the construction supervision consultant — a consortium comprising CCCC Highways Consultants Co. Ltd. and the Chinese Project Management Company (CPMC) — were also present during the site walkthrough.
A major milestone was achieved on 26 June 2025, with the successful installation of stay cables across all five piers, marking the completion of one of the project’s most complex structural components.
Additional key accomplishments include the completion of structural connections between abutment 0 and pier 1, as well as between pier 1 and pier 2; ongoing sub-base laying and compaction at the approach road; construction of drainage systems and concrete fencing; and slope protection works at the abutment.
The DPWH UPMO-BMC and its contractor are also preparing for the connection between pier 2 and pier 3, scheduled for 2 July 2025, and the connection between pier 5 and abutment 1.
With final deck connections targeted for July and substantial work nearing completion, the Bucana Bridge Project is set to become a transformative infrastructure asset by the end of 2025.
