That bridge is stupid, but it is there

It was more than a personal embarrassment for us at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to host the governor of the Bank of Thailand and his staff over two decades ago, only for them to discover what many in Bohol had dubbed the “bridge to nowhere.” On social media, it’s called the “monument to stupidity,” while historian Ambeth Ocampo named it “bridge of folly.” Or simply, the “stupid bridge.”

- DIWA C. GUINIGUNDO

At first, our Thai guests were captivated. The Loboc River cruise, with its indulgent buffet, showcased lush tropical vegetation and the exceptional Loboc Children’s Choir. The Busay waterfalls offered an almost endless feast for the senses. But enchantment turned to disbelief when we reached the infamous bridge — a concrete span over the Loboc River that abruptly ended before the centuries-old San Pedro Apostol Parish Church.

The church, of course, is not to blame. Built in 1602, replaced 35 years later, under the stewardship of the Jesuits and Recollects, the Loboc Church is the second oldest in Bohol, next only to Baclayon. It is both a National Historical Landmark and a National Cultural Treasure. Had the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) persisted with its plans, the bridge would have desecrated the church, obliterated the plaza, and severed the bell tower.

Fortunately, a public outcry halted the travesty. Unfortunately, not before public funds had been wasted on an incomplete, purposeless structure. Today, it stands as a grotesque promenade — a visual testament to waste and corruption.

What distinguishes this stupid bridge from the flood control projects now under scrutiny is that the bridge, at least, exists. It's a visible scar. The flood control projects, on the other hand, are in a league of their own - sui generis. Some exist but are poorly planned and executed; others don’t exist at all.

Last week, Senator Ping Lacson laid bare the scale of this rot.

From 2011 to 2025, roughly P1.9 trillion, or P127 billion a year, was poured into flood control. In the last three years alone, over P1 trillion. Yet reports show that flooding has worsened in many areas. Some blame climate change, and that’s not untrue. Warmer temperatures mean heavier rainfall; sea levels are rising. But even without typhoons or monsoons, these projects have failed to deliver.