A video on YouTube is erroneously claiming that the Panguil Bay Bridge, which will become the longest water-spanning bridge in Mindanao once construction is done, was a project by the Duterte administration. This is misleading.
The project was approved in 2015, and the loan agreement was signed before former President Rodrigo Duterte came to office in 2016.
Published on Sept. 12, the video continues to circulate this week with this headline:
“KAKAPASOK LANG Good news! FPRRD Pinakamahabang TULAY sa MINDANAO TAPOS NA? Patunay na DI MAGNANAKAW!
(JUST IN, good news! Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s longest bridge in Mindanao is done? Proof that he is not a thief!)”
The following text can also be read on its thumbnail:
“OMG! PROJECT NI FPPRD TAPOS NA! MALACANANG AT KONGRESO NA-SHOCKED (Duterte’s project is finished! Malacanang and Congress are shocked)”
The claim is misleading. While the construction of the Panguil Bay Bridge started under the administration of Duterte, plans for the project were already finalized before Duterte took office.
The Panguil Bay Bridge Project was approved for implementation by the National Economic Development Authority Board in 2015, connecting Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Tubod town in Lanao del Norte.
The loan agreement to finance the project of the Department of Public Works and Highways was signed in April 2016 with South Korea through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund. It was on May 30, 2016 that Duterte was proclaimed president.
Aside from this claim, the YouTube narrator also erroneously said the media refuses to report on this “Duterte legacy.” This is not true. There have been several news reports about the upcoming inauguration of the bridge.
This video continues to spread as lawmakers during a plenary debate said Duterte may be held liable for obstruction of justice for allegedly harboring Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Quiboloy.
YouTube channel PINAS NEWS HEADLINES (created on July 24, 2017) published the spurious video, garnering over 21,000 views and 1,260 online interactions.
