Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday disputed Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s claim that the opening of the Davao City Coastal Road was “premature,” saying that the initial agreement allowed the project to be operational even with just two of four lanes open.</p><p>“Ang sinasabi po dito na ang initial agreement ay maaari pong buksan, passable ang two lanes at maaari pong magamit sa umaga – 6 a.m. hanggang 5 p.m.,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said. </p><p>“Sinasabi rin po na ang DPWH solar lights installation, ito po ay two to three days ay matatapos na po ang solar lights sa buong stretch at maaari na pong madaanan kahit sa gabi,” she said in a Palace press briefing. </p><p>“Kung papadaanan yung 2 lanes sa umaga, malaking ginhawa kasi siya,” she added in a separate interview.</p><p>Marcos — who inspected the Bucana Bridge earlier this month — had said that the bridge would be open to motorists on December 15, but the infrastructure remained closed on December 16 as the Davao City Mayor questioned its integrity.</p><p>“The Segment B of the coastal road remains under the jurisdiction of DPWH, as it has not yet been officially turned over to the LGU, primarily because the project is still unfinished,” Duterte said in a statement, noting that all four lanes were scheduled for completion by March 2026.</p><p>“There are no streetlights or safety and traffic signages installed at the Roxas exit. Members of the DCRPAMB also asked DPWH why Segment B would be opened despite being unfinished; no proper answer was given,” the mayor said.</p><p>“The integrity and safety of public roads must not be compromised simply because a deadline has been carelessly set,” he said.</p><p>The Palace said the cooperation of the Davao City LGU was needed for the bridge to be operational as the city government would be in charge of manning the traffic in the area.</p><p>“Ang kailangan lang po talaga ay ang kooperasyon ng LGU para maisakatuparan ito,” Castro said.</p><p>“Kung isa dito hindi makikipag-cooperate, hindi talaga madadaanan siya kasi kailangan talaga ng kooperasyon para sa ikagiginhawa ng mamamayan,” she added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/10/8-dpwh-officials-implicated-in-davao-occidental-ghost-project-surrender-to-nbi-1620">8 DPWH officials implicated in Davao Occidental ‘ghost’ project surrender to NBI</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e-W4wJ2QkQQ?si=xzUBDtDoxv4eQ2JV" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Malacañang on Tuesday disputed Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s claim that the opening of the Davao City Coastal Road was “premature,” saying that the initial agreement allowed the project to be operational even with just two of four lanes open.</p>

Malacañang on Tuesday disputed Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s claim that the opening of the Davao City Coastal Road was “premature,” saying that the initial agreement allowed the project to be operational even with just two of four lanes open.

Palace rejects Sebastian Duterte's claim on ‘premature’ Davao Coastal Road opening

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Palace rejects Sebastian Duterte's claim on ‘premature’ Davao Coastal Road opening

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 16, 2025 04:04 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 16, 2025 05:53 PM PHT

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Davao

Davao Coastal Road

Sebastian Duterte

DPWH

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