In Photo: Bucana Bridge
* Up next Davao-Samal Bridge
The City Council of Davao formally commended the government of the People’s Republic of China and President Xi Jinping for the construction of the Bucana Bridge, a key infrastructure project under the national “Build, Build, Build” program of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte. China extended a $60-million grant for the construction of the 1.3 kilometer bridge located at the mouth of Davao River and connects the northern and southern portion of the Davao City coastal boulevard.
Targeted to be formally opened this December 15, Bucana Bridge is expected to ease traffic congestion, improve transportation efficiency, and boost economic mobility in the city.
In a resolution authored by Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, the Davao City legislators expressed their gratitude to China for the unconditional and vital financial and technical support for the project, describing it as a testament to the strong bilateral cooperation and friendship between the two nations.
The resolution highlighted the cultural, economic, and social ties, noting that recent collaborations have included bridges, road networks, socio-economic ties and development initiatives that benefited Davao City and Davao region.
It can be recalled that when the lucrative banana export to Japan was diminished due to the imposition of high tariff, China opened its market to absorb Davao Cavendish bananas following the diplomatic foray of then President Duterte who opted for bilateral talks with China’s Xi Jinping. However following the Marcos administration’s pivot to the US and the establishments of nine EDCA military bases in the country the Philippines lost the China market.
China moreover pursued its commitments for Davao that include the grant for the construction of Bucana Bridge and the Davao-Samal Connector bridge. The two mega bridge infrastructures are constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation.
The Davao City Council particularly expressed appreciation for President Xi Jinping’s personal role in supporting the projects of the Duterte administration, calling the Bucana Bridge a “prominent symbol of friendship” between the the two leaders. Copies of the resolution were furnished to the Chinese Embassy, the Office of President Xi Jinping through diplomatic channels. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government offices were likewise given copies of the resolution.
In a related development, the Davao – Samal Bridge construction is now moving ahead after settlements of legal impediments.
The Chinese government provided the Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the Samal Island – Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge Project in Davao Region.
It can be recalled that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH), through Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez , and Government of the People’s Republic of China (GPRC) through Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines Ambassador Huan Xilian exchanged on June 13, 2022 the Framework Agreement on the provision of concessional loans to the Philippines for the design and build of SIDC Project under China Government Financing Facility.
As explained by then Secretary Dominguez, the long-awaited dream project over decades, Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project is one of the key G-to-G cooperation projects between China and the Philippines and a flagship project under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration.
The Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) provides financing for the construction of SIDC Project, a toll-free two-way four-lane extradosed bridge. The loan will cover 90 percent of the project cost billed at ₱23.039-billion.
The bridge will connect the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, Island Garden City of Samal to Davao City in between R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction. It has a total length of 3.98 kilometers including Davao ramps and at grade road and roundabout in Samal.
China Road and Bridge Corporation has been selected as the contractor for the project.
Once completed, the bridge will provide a reliable transportation link between Metro Davao and Samal Island, reducing travel time from 26 to 30 minutes, excluding hours of waiting time, via the present ferry operations, to only 5 minutes.
Former Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said that once completed the bridge will boost economic and tourist growth leading to the progress of the islanders who had been hoping for a bridge that is now transforming into a reality.
