The newly completed Bucana Bridge in Davao City has sparked debate online, with critics accusing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of “credit-grabbing.” Here’s what the facts show.
The Bucana Bridge was part of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road, first planned in 2015–2016 under former President Rodrigo Duterte. Formal planning, feasibility studies, and engineering designs were completed between 2018 and 2021, and the project secured a ₱3.126-billion grant from China. Construction officially began in November 2023 under the Department of Public Works and Highways and contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation.
Critics argue it is misleading to present the bridge as “Marcos’s project,” since planning and funding were secured before his term. Supporters say Marcos’s administration oversaw the final stages, commissioning, and official opening, making it reasonable to list the bridge among current achievements.
Fact check summary:
✅ Planning and funding → Duterte administration & China ODA
⚠️ Completion and opening → Marcos administration
🟡 Presenting the bridge as “Marcos’s project” → Partly misleading
✅ Marcos can legitimately take credit for final delivery
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In short, the Bucana Bridge is not originally Marcos’s project, but it was completed and inaugurated during his term, which is why his administration is associated with it.
This example highlights the importance of distinguishing project origin from project completion when evaluating infrastructure claims.
