The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd District Engineering Office has secured funding to complete the P106-million Argao Bridge in Cebu, following public scrutiny over the project's delay. The bridge, finished in 2023, gained online attention after photos and videos showed it standing without connecting roads, rendering it unusable.
Funding Breakdown and Timeline
In an interview on June 16, 2026, DPWH Cebu 2nd District Engineer Francis Flores explained that the original P106-million budget, approved in 2022, covered only the bridge structure and excluded access roads. "The P106 million was just for the bridge itself. It was completed in 2023, but according to the regional office, it had no approaches," Flores said.
No budget request was made in 2024 for the access roads. The district and regional offices jointly requested funding only in 2025, which was included in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). "It's unfortunate that the process was delayed, but the funding for the approaches is now in the 2026 GAA, so the project can be finished and made passable," Flores added.
A separate P51 million has been allocated for the construction of the access roads. The project is scheduled for bidding on June 30. Flores noted that Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the project's completion to be expedited.
Local Government Response
Argao Vice Mayor Orvi Ortega stated that the local government had alerted the district engineering office about the unfinished project. The Sangguniang Bayan passed a resolution in early June urging Flores to prioritize the project's completion.
The bridge drew public and online criticism in recent weeks, with residents questioning why a completed bridge remained inaccessible years after its construction. Flores assured that once the bidding process is finished and a contractor is selected, work on the access roads can begin immediately, allowing the bridge to be utilized.
