The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is making steady progress on the 1.34-kilometer Davao River (Bucana) Bridge, with construction now over 73% complete. The project is on track for completion by the third quarter of 2025.

 

During a site inspection on January 27, 2025, Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, accompanied by Project Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes of the Bridges Management Cluster-Unified Project Management Office (BMC-UPMO), noted substantial progress, with current work focused on the bridge’s superstructure.

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Also present at the inspection were UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista, Stakeholders Relations Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario, and UPMO Project Manager Joweto V. Tulaylay.

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The Bucana Bridge will link the eastern and western coastal areas of Davao City, serving as a key alternative route to ease congestion in the city center and improve access to vital areas across the metropolis.

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In an update to Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Senior Undersecretary Sadain emphasized that the DPWH BMC-UPMO Bucana Bridge Project Team, led by Acting Project Manager Norifel Teddie G. Cadiang and Project Engineer John Christian T. Gaden, is accelerating construction efforts. The team aims to complete the bridge ahead of schedule by November 2025, within 24 months of the notice to proceed issued to contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

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“Despite recent rains in Mindanao posing some challenges, we remain confident that the Bucana Bridge will be finished ahead of schedule. Our engineers and the contractor are committed to expediting work,” Sadain stated.

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The four-lane, six-span extradosed bridge features advanced structural elements and is designed to complement the Davao City Coastal Road. It will significantly improve mobility and connectivity within the greater Davao area.

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With a total project cost of ₱3.126 billion, the bridge is funded through a China Aid Grant, supplemented by the Philippine government. Its modern design ensures navigational clearances, allowing smooth maritime traffic along the Davao River.

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Once operational, the Bucana Bridge is expected to accommodate up to 35,000 vehicles daily, enhancing traffic flow and reducing congestion in Davao City’s coastal districts.