DAVAO CITY – Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Secretary Leo Tereso Magno clarified on Friday that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to the P3.1-billion Bucana Bridge project here Thursday was purely an inspection and should not be framed as a political event.

Speaking at the Business Insights Forum at NCCC Victoria Plaza, Magno stressed that the President’s presence was part of his mandate to oversee major national projects, notably the Bucana Bridge. He added that the event was not an inauguration.

“The event yesterday was never a political event, and people should not address it as such. It was an inspection, not an inauguration. If you listen to what the President said, he praised those responsible for the project. Unfortunately, some people try to politicize it,” Magno said.

Magno emphasized the project’s significant impact on the city’s mobility. Once operational, he said, the Davao River-Bucana Bridge is expected to cut travel time between Matina and Roxas Ave. from 45 minutes to an hour to only 22 to 30 minutes.

The Bucana Bridge, funded through a grant from the Chinese government, is a key component of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road. It is expected to ease traffic congestion by providing a faster, safer, and more efficient link between Barangays 76-A Bucana and Matina Aplaya.

Constructed by China Road and Bridge Corp. under the supervision of the Department of Public Works and Highways Unified Project Management Office–Bridges Management Cluster, the bridge spans the Davao River. It will connect the city’s eastern and western coastal areas.

The structure is a five-pylon, double–cable-plane extradosed prestressed concrete continuous girder bridge stretching 480.2 meters, with a deck width ranging from 22.24 to 23 meters. Including its approaches, the total project length reaches 1.34 kilometers.

Planning, funding, and pre-construction work for the bridge started in 2018 under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s Build, Build, Build program. China later provided a P3.1-billion Official Development Assistance grant after the former Chief Executive met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Since Marcos allegedly made no mention of the project’s origins during his inspection, several netizens took to social media to emphasize that it was Duterte’s administration that secured funding and initiated the project.

Other netizens also commented after acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte posted online ahead of Marcos’ visit, sarcastically noting that the President might “claim credit” for the bridge.

After the visit, the President posted on Facebook about his visit to the project. Marcos highlighted the role of the bridge, which began construction in 2023, in enhancing traffic flow within Davao City and promoting economic activity across Mindanao, benefiting more than 14,000 motorists daily, especially during the holiday season.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, Presidential Assistant Anton Lagdameo, Rep. JM Lagdameo, and Magno joined the President during his visit and assessment of the bridge that will open to motorists on Dec. 15.

The Bucana Bridge is one of several major Chinese-funded projects in Davao. Like the Davao–Samal Bridge, it is being built by China Road and Bridge Corp. to enhance Mindanao’s transportation system and support regional economic growth.