VP Sara: Former president Duterte secured funding for Bucana Bridge project

Vice President Sara Duterte credited China and former President Rodrigo Duterte for the construction of the Bucana Bridge in Davao City.

In an interview at The Hague on Friday, the Vice President said it was her father, former President Duterte, who secured funding from China for the project.

“Bucana Bridge is kaparte ng buong coastal road ng Davao City. So, yung coastal road, hindi siya makakatawid ng Bankerohan River kung wala yung Bucana Bridge… It was made known at that time to former President Duterte that the bridge is unfunded, at siya ay naghanap ng paraan para mabigyan ng pondo yung bridge,” Duterte said.

(Bucana Bridge is part of the entire coastal road of Davao City. So the coastal road—you won’t be able to cross the Bankerohan River without the Bucana Bridge… It was made known at that time to former President Duterte that the bridge is unfunded, and he is the one that found a way to find funding for the bridge.)

“So, noong nakahanap siya ng pondo, ay sinimulan yung negotiations, sinimulan yung mga planning, lahat ng paperwork para doon sa bridge na yun ay sinimulan na,” she added.

(When he found funding, he started the negotiations and planning; all the paperwork for that bridge was started.)

“Walang gastos ang City Government of Davao, walang gastos ang Pilipinas para tayo magkaroon ng bridge na iyon, at napakahalaga ng bridge na iyon dahil hindi mag-connect ang south to north kung wala yung bridge,” the former Davao City mayor said.

(The City Government of Davao did not spend anything; the Philippines did not spend anything to have that bridge, and that bridge is very important because the south to north cannot be connected without that bridge.)

Meanwhile, the Vice President did not comment on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s statement that the Bucana Bridge is among the four "legacy projects" of his administration in Davao.

Bucana Bridge is a 1.3-kilometer project built between Barangays 76-A Bucana and Matina Aplaya and over the Davao River.

Set to open on December 15, the P3.1-billion bridge is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion in downtown Davao City.

Marcos inspected the bridge on Thursday. — VBL, GMA Integrated News