AFTER a year of delays, the construction of the Pulangbato Bridge in Cebu City is set to resume next week, the barangay captain confirmed on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Pulangbato Barangay Captain John Barry Miñoza, in a phone interview on August 7, 2025, said that Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival revealed the development during Liga ng mga Barangay–Cebu City 3rd Quarter Assembly held at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino on August 5, 2025.
Miñoza expressed his gratitude to the new administration for resuming the construction of the unfinished bridge, and he hopes the new administration will complete the project by the end of the year.
“Hangyo lang gyud mi nga mapaspasan ang trabaho didto,” said Miñoza.
(We’re just really asking for the work there to be expedited.)
The unfinished concrete deck girder bridge has become a source of frustration for residents, with construction starting in 2023 but failing to meet its expected completion deadline.
The prolonged delays led the barangay to declare a “state of emergency” last October 2024. The declaration became the basis for the City Council to terminate the original contract. It was initially awarded to SBD Builders for P24 million.
The City Council has approved P28 million to complete the unfinished bridge.
The previous city administration has bid out the new contract, while Archival, who recently won the mayoral election, has pledged to finish the project. His goal is for the bridge to be operational by December 2025.
Miñoza said, however, that he has no information on the exact start date for the new construction or who the new contractor is. The barangay, however, will extend support to complete the project.
The unfinished bridge has posed safety risks. Since 2023, residents and visitors have had to use a temporary road on the riverbed.
This temporary road becomes impassable during heavy rains, as strong currents and rising water levels make it hazardous. Several motorcycle riders have been injured due to the slippery surface.
“Kasagaran kay mangatumba tungod sa kalisod sa dalan. Kung mag-uwan kay naay uban nga mopugos unya kung maanod kay matumba,” said Miñoza. “Naay uban nga nagisi ang tuhod, tua adto sa Guba Hospital nagpatahi.”
(Most riders fall because of the poor road conditions. When it rains, some still try to pass through, but they end up getting swept away and falling. Some had scraped knees and had to go to Guba Hospital to get stitches.)
The new bridge is intended to replace an old steel structure destroyed by Typhoon Odette in 2021. The bridge is a vital link, connecting Pulangbato to the mountain barangays of Sirao, Guba, and Agsungot, going to and from the downtown area.
The barangay will continue to deploy traffic personnel to the temporary road. The personnel will manage traffic, especially on weekends when the area sees an influx of visitors.
During his meeting with the city's 80 barangay chairpersons, Archival announced the continuation of road asphalting projects by the end of the year.
He also provided updates on the City’s solar-powered initiatives. They include replacing streetlights with solar units and converting the ABC building to a solar-powered facility.
Archival also sought the importance of cooperation, as he encouraged collaboration between the City Government and the barangays for continued development.
"As the mayor of the City of Cebu, I'm not just a mayor -- but you are my partners. All the barangays in the city of Cebu, you are our partners," Archival said. "I understand, without you, the city of Cebu will not prosper. So, I would like to ask you to please cooperate."
The event was attended by Vice Mayor Tommy Osmeña, who shared about his Mayor of the Night initiative, which caters to night shift workers, especially in the BPO sector.
The program includes 24/7 government services through a one-stop shop and offers free transportation for night workers.
Meanwhile, Councilor Paul Labra II, chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order, presented Oplan Pakigsandurot, an anti-criminality program that aims to promote a safer and more peaceful Cebu City through close coordination with barangays and concerned agencies. (EHP)