Davao City acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte lashed at the partial opening of Segment B of the Davao City Coastal Road being carried out by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as compliance with what he described as a “careless pronouncement” by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding the project’s opening.
DPWH 11 announced that the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Segment B, including Bucana Bridge, officially open on Monday at 5 p.m. following Marcos’ announcement during his inspection on December 4 that the bridge will officially open to motorists on December 15, just in time for the Christmas holidays.
In a statement issued on December 15, Duterte said DPWH will open only two of the four lanes at the Coastal Road–Roxas exit despite the segment remaining unfinished.
He stressed that Segment B is still under DPWH jurisdiction and has not yet been officially turned over to the city government because the project has not been completed.
“The Segment B of the coastal road remains under the jurisdiction of DPWH, as it has not yet been officially turned over to the LGU, primarily because the project is still unfinished. According to DPWH, all four lanes are scheduled for completion by March 2026,” Duterte stated.
According to Duterte, DPWH previously indicated that all four lanes of the coastal road segment are scheduled for completion by March 2026.
However, an inspection conducted by the Davao City Road Project Advisory and Monitoring Board (DCRPAMB) on December 14 found that only two lanes were nearing completion.
He said the inspection also revealed the absence of streetlights and safety and traffic signages at the Roxas exit.
Duterte said members of the DCRPAMB questioned DPWH officials on why the segment would be opened despite being unfinished, but no clear explanation was given.
“The integrity and safety of public roads must not be compromised simply because a deadline has been carelessly set,” Duterte said.
He also warned that motorists should anticipate possible traffic congestion in the area due to the premature opening.
The acting mayor further said DPWH should be held accountable should any untoward incident occur as a result of inadequate lighting and safety measures.
“To DPWH: should anything happen to Dabawenyos in that area because of inadequate streetlights and safety measures, that is on you and your stupidity. I ask DPWH: do you still know how to do your job? Under whose authority was the decision made to open this unfinished coastal segment?” he said.
He also questioned the authority under which the decision to open the unfinished coastal road segment was made.
Despite his objections, Duterte said that if national authorities insist on opening the coastal road segment, the city government would have no choice but to allow it, while continuing to raise concerns over public safety.
Meanwhile, Regional Development Council 11 (RDC 11) Infrastructure Development Council chair Art Milan had earlier confirmed the structure is complete, though right‑of‑way issues along Roxas Avenue continue to delay full access.
Milan noted that the original target completion was 2027, but the Chinese contractor finished ahead of schedule.
