Chinese to undertake P1.5-B Davao bridge project

DAVAO CITY -- The Chinese will help build the city’s PHP1.5-billion Davao River Bridge Bucana project, one of the big-ticket projects planned by Mayor Sara Duterte.

Mayor Sara announced this during her State of the City Address (SOCA) on Tuesday.

Once this pushes through, "there will then be five bridges that will cross the Davao River," she said.

The Davao River Bridge Bucana will be an 800-linear-meter bridge, including approaches, and will connect the Segment B of the coastal road project from Times Beach to Roxas Avenue.

This will be part of the Davao High Standard Highway Network, which includes the Davao City Bypass Road of 44.6 kilometers, the 23.3-kilometer Davao City Expressway, and the 18.2-kilometer Davao City Coastal Road.

In an earlier interview, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Allan Borromeo said the Chinese government is interested in building the major bridge.

Although the design is already complete, Borromeo said the project cannot be implemented yet because it still needs an official agreement between the Philippines and China.

Borromeo said the bridge will connect the next phase of the ongoing city coastal road project. (Digna D. Banzon/PNA)