President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s inspection of the Bucana Bridge in Davao City on Thursday drew a wave of online criticism, with netizens accusing him of “credit grabbing” for a project that was funded entirely by China at no cost to the Philippine government and initiated during the Duterte administration.
Marcos visited the 1,340-meter, four-lane bridge—part of the multiyear Davao City Coastal Road project—alongside Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, MinDA chair Leo Magno, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, and Davao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Jose Manuel Lagdameo. The bridge is financed through a P3.126‑billion grant from China and began construction in 2017 under the Duterte government’s Build, Build, Build program.
The President said the bridge is expected to open to motorists on December 15, 2025, calling it a “key milestone” that will significantly cut travel time around the city.
However, his remarks were quickly overshadowed by online criticism.
On Edge Davao’s social media page, several commenters stressed that the project was conceptualized and launched during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s term. Iris Cabqui wrote that the bridge “was clearly a Duterte-era initiative,” while Ana Aberilla thanked Duterte, former Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, and the Build, Build, Build team for starting the project.
Others were more blunt, with Beng Beng Leidraj calling Marcos a “credit grabber,” and Anna Lisa commenting, “Aangkinin na naman niya yan. Kapal muks talaga.” Another user, Liljon Pabatang, questioned the bridge’s condition, claiming, “Bag-o paman unta ang tulay pero naa namay bangag.”
China funding
The bridge is financed through a P3.126‑billion Chinese grant, not a loan, meaning the Philippines will not repay a single peso and the project does not add to the national debt.
A “gift,” not a loan
The Bucana Bridge was funded under an Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation signed between the Philippines and China in 2018 and reaffirmed in 2020. Under this arrangement, China pledged roughly 500 million renminbi (about USD 75 million) in grant funding for several infrastructure projects, with Bucana Bridge being the largest.
The Philippine government never handled the money. Instead, once the DPWH verified completed work, China directly paid the Chinese contractor—China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). This “direct payment” mechanism kept the funds within China’s financial system while the Philippines received the finished infrastructure.
The grant also came with restricted bidding, limiting the contractor pool to three Chinese state‑owned firms. However, the Philippines negotiated a localized implementation mode, allowing DPWH to remain project manager and enforce local safety and design standards.
Despite the online backlash, government officials maintained that the Bucana Bridge remains on track. RDC 11’s Infrastructure Development Council chair Art Milan 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.
An estimated 35,000 vehicles are expected to use the bridge daily once fully opened, easing congestion in Davao City.
