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FACT CHECK: No, this is not a bridge in the Philippines

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Agence France-Presse

<p>Facebook posts shared thousands of times contain multiple photos of bridges alongside references to a planned infrastructure project connecting two Philippine towns including the phrases &quot;open bridge&quot; and &quot;we can now roam around.&quot;</p><p>The posts are using the photos in a misleading context; none of them were taken in the Philippines and construction of the planned Philippine bridge has not yet begun.</p><p>The posts – for example <a href="http://archive.fo/Y2O6H">here</a>, published March 20, 2019, and <a href="http://archive.fo/EVwPa">here</a>, where it has been shared more than 4,800 times since being published July 24, 2017 – carry seven photos showing large suspension and box-girder bridges.</p><p>When translated, the caption on the posts, which is written in a mixture of Filipino and English, says:</p><p>&quot;Wow, so much wow... from Jetafe Cebu Cordova open Bridge Bohol Philippines easy to travel #WE CAN NOW ROAM AROUND&quot;</p><p><a href="https://www.bohol.ph/mun27.html">Jetafe</a> is a town on the central Philippine island of Bohol. <a href="http://cordova.gov.ph/">Cordova</a> is another town in the neighboring island of Cebu. The two towns are around 30 kilometers (18 miles) away from each other.</p><p>Below is a screenshot of one of the posts:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_bridges1.png"/></figure></div><p>Comments on the post show that some users believed the images showed a bridge in the Philippines. Other commenters raised doubts over the veracity of the claim, which the original poster replied to.</p><p>For example the comments in the screenshots below, with the identity of the users redacted, translated into English say:</p><p>1. &quot;Well, no need to ride a boat my dear. We&#x27;ll just travel by wheels when I have chance to visit Bohol... I hope this ain&#x27;t fake&quot; ; 2. &quot;Commenter: &quot;Is it really open to the public? Poster: I don&#x27;t know. I will ask first hahaha... Maybe because there are already vehicles travelling&quot;; 3. &quot;Commenter: Is it true? Poster: Yes it is really true&quot; ; 4. &quot;Let&#x27;s do a roadtrip heart [name of person] up to Bohol hehe&quot;.</p><p>The poster does not clarify that the pictures do not show a bridge in the Philippines; the reference to &quot;vehicles travelling&quot; in comment 2 instead links the photos in the post to the claims about the bridge.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_commentsredacted1.jpg"/></figure></div><p>However, reverse image searches using Google and Tineye found that all seven photos were taken outside the Philippines.</p><p>They actually show bridges in the following locations: France, Greece, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, and two in the United States. Details of the AFP investigation that revealed this are lower down in this article.</p><p>The Philippines does plan to build a bridge connecting the islands of Cebu and Bohol, but it is not yet &quot;open.&quot;</p><p>The project has been reported on by major national news organizations, for example here in the <a href="https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/851350/bohol-cebu-bridge-gets-neda-approval">Inquirer</a> and in this <a href="https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2018/02/20/1789633/works-cebu-bohol-bridge-may-start-2020">Phil Star</a> article dated February 20, 2018 and headlined &quot;Works on Cebu-Bohol bridge may start in 2020&quot;.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/19/18/govt-to-build-8-major-bridges-linking-luzon-visayas-mindanao-finance">Gov’t to build 8 major bridges linking Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao: Finance</a></li></ul><p><a href="http://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Infrastructure-Flagship-Projects-as-of-January-31-2019.pdf">This</a> report from the Philippines&#x27; National Economic Development Authority, dated January 31, 2019, gives the status of flagship infrastructure projects including the bridge between Cebu and Bohol.</p><p>It says the &quot;target start of implementation&quot; for construction of the Cebu-Bohol bridge is 2021 and the &quot;target end of implementation&quot; is 2030, as highlighted in the screenshot below:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_bridge1.png"/></figure></div><p>Here is evidence that the seven photos do not show a bridge in the Philippines:</p><div><strong>1. PONT DE NORMANDIE, FRANCE</strong></div><p>A reverse image search of the first photo included in the Facebook post traced it back to <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tanishasystemsinc/9365869746">this</a> photo published July 25, 2013, on image-hosting service Flickr.</p><p>The caption on the Flickr photo says: &quot;Amazing bridge in France!&quot;</p><p>Below is an image comparing a screenshot of the misleading Facebook post with a screenshot of the photo on Flickr:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_bridgefrance_0.jpg"/></figure></div><p>A photo of the same bridge was published on stock photography provider iStock <a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/my/photo/traffic-at-pont-de-normandie-near-le-havre-in-france-gm854083140-140588083">here</a> on August 23, 2017, with a caption that says: &quot;Traffic at Pont de Normandie, bridge over river Seine near Le Havre in France.&quot;</p><p>The image below contains a screenshot of the iStock photo (above) and a screenshot from Google Maps of that location (below):</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_bridgecomparison.jpg"/></figure></div><p>The Google Maps image, dated September 2018, is taken from a different, less elevated angle, but the distinctive shape of the bridge and its surroundings can be seen as well as road signs that correspond with the iStock and Flickr photos.</p><div><strong>2. RION-ANTIRION BRIDGE, GREECE</strong></div><p>The second photo in the Facebook post was traced to <a href="http://www.euceet.upatras.gr/Content/Uploads/EUCEET%202011%20Poster%20-%20Patras%20-%20Greece.pdf">this</a> PDF file on the website for a conference of the European Civil Engineering Education and Training (EUCEET) Association.</p><p>The image below compares the image in the Facebook post with the PDF, which advertises a conference in Patras, Greece on November 24-25, 2011:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_patrasomparison.jpg"/></figure></div><p>AFP searched for more photos of a suspension bridge near the city of Patras in Greece and found <a href="https://www.vinci-construction-projets.com/en/realisations/rion-antirion-bridge/">this</a> description of the Rion-Antirion Bridge, which connects the peninsula of Peloponnese to mainland Greece, on the website of building company Vinci Construction.</p><p>The image below includes a screenshot of the photo of the bridge on the Vinci Construction site and a screenshot of the location on Google Maps:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_patrascomparison2.jpg"/></figure></div><div><strong>3. TSING MA BRIDGE, HONG KONG</strong></div><p>The third photo in the Facebook post was found in <a href="http://vkool.com/most-beautiful-bridges/">this</a> article titled &quot;List of most beautiful bridges on the world&quot; on the website vkool.com, which says it is the Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong.</p><p>The image below compares a screenshot of the Facebook post with a screenshot of the vkool.com article:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_tsingmacomparison2.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Below is an AFP image of Hong Kong&#x27;s Tsing Ma Bridge, in which the same two vertical columns – split into three sections – can be seen, as well as the same silhoutette of tower blocks in the background:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/afptools-watermark-1553748423232.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Below is a screenshot of another photo showing the Tsing Ma bridge <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-night-scenes-tsing-ma-bridge-hong-kong-image11490523">here</a> on stock image company dreamstime.com, in which the same looping slipways can be seen as in the Facebook images:</p><div><strong>4. SUNSHINE SKYWAY BRIDGE, FLORIDA, USA</strong></div><p>The Facebook post&#x27;s fourth photo, showing a long sea bridge, is the same as <a href="https://www.alamy.com/scenic-aerial-photo-of-sunshine-skyway-bridge-fishing-pier-tampa-bay-image7382275.html?mid=41152&amp;siteID=MRu_ISar6sQ-1Ft8cJe6pnt2Zttrku.V8Q&amp;utm_source=LS&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_content=US">this</a> Alamy stock photo of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the US state of Florida.</p><p>The image below compares a screenshot of the Facebook post with a screenshot of the photo as it appears on Alamy&#x27;s website:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_floridacomparison1.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Below is a screenshot from Google Maps of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in which the same curvature of the road and raised section are visible:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_florida_bridge.png"/></figure></div><div><strong>5. LANGKAWI SKY BRIDGE, MALAYSIA</strong></div><p>The fifth photo in the Facebook post also appears <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/136372730@N04/28339429665/in/photolist-HKiB93-nw96kA-KbfZ7i-Fj3Dqh-Esfx6-bfAeuK-25NDX9U-aPxaJz-asatd2-7u54Nx-H1pG6V-4uGrt7-d4m5Qu-282CHWQ-8YfDjf-3xSHtQ-gPCyT5-8JrpEh-7R7fL1-25ptPY-9dvBGp-bfDpeD-9sYusC-6zcefx-iwh3Lj-bfDgXv-Go5pnW-4iWnpy-6XoBVR-27oJ3xb-6XtKt9-5NKJmF-j3WbyK-MkqLG6-6eSb3H-bRY9y6-KLdASZ-dctpv1-asarVk-i8amnv-273oCQu-MzhQn-d3pMdh-s1eFjD-8TdqPe-hBpRy-bfrf6r-8YfmFX-fxUrtY-Ep3pbh">here</a> on Flickr with the caption: &quot;Langkawi Sky Bridge, Langkawi Island, Malaysia&quot;. <a href="http://www.langkawi-info.com/">Langkawi</a> is an archipelago in northwestern Malaysia.</p><p>Below is an image comparing the photo in the Facebook post with the photo on Flickr:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_5compare.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Below are two screenshots of the curved pedestrian bridge from Google Maps, in which the distinctive structure and triangular platforms are clearly visible:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_54compare.jpg"/></figure></div><div><strong>6. SEVEN MILE BRIDGE, FLORIDA, USA</strong></div><p>A reverse image search traced the sixth photo in the Facebook post to <a href="https://www.shutterbug.com/content/road-air-special-images-try-shooting-special-place">this</a> article dated October 4, 2016 on the website of the photography magazine Shutterbug.</p><p>The photo in the Shutterbug article is attributed to Blaine Harrington and its caption says it shows &quot;The Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys from a helicopter&quot;.</p><p>Below is an image comparing the photo in the Facebook post with a screenshot of the article:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_6compare.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Below is an AFP photo of the bridge taken from a different angle. It also shows dual roads built close to the water with vertical poles between them and part of the bridge passing over an island.</p><p>The AFP photo&#x27;s caption says: &quot;The Seven Mile Bridge is seen from the air looking south from Marathon, Florida February 22, 2011. The Seven Mile Bridge connects Knight&#x27;s Key (part of the city of Marathon, Florida) in the Middle Keys to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys.</p><p>&quot;Among the longest bridges in existence when it was built, it is one of the many bridges on US 1 in the Keys, where the road is called the Overseas Highway.&quot;</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_afptools-watermark-1553756799147.jpg"/></figure></div><div><strong>7. AKASHI KAIKYO BRIDGE, JAPAN</strong></div><p>The seventh and final photo in the Facebook post shows the Akashi Kaikyo bridge in Japan. A reverse image search found the same photo <a href="https://amanaimages.com/info/infoRM.aspx?GroupCD=0&amp;SearchKey=26063002258&amp;no">here</a> on the website of Amana Images, a collection of &#x27;Japanese lifestyle&#x27; stock photos.</p><p>The image below compares a screenshot of the Facebook post with the photo as it appears on amanaimages.com:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_7compare_1.jpg"/></figure></div><p>AFP&#x27;s Tokyo bureau translated the Amana Images photo&#x27;s caption into English. It says, in part: &quot;Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in season of fresh green leaves.&quot;</p><p>The AFP photo below, taken April 5, 1998, shows the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Kobe, western Japan. It has the same two vertical columns with a criss-cross structure and a circular base, and the surrounding landscape is also the same:</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/28/20190328_afptools-watermark-1553757458557.jpg"/></figure></div>

<p>Facebook posts shared thousands of times contain multiple photos of bridges alongside references to a planned infrastructure project connecting two Philippine towns including the phrases "open bridge" and "we can now roam around".</p>

Facebook posts shared thousands of times contain multiple photos of bridges alongside references to a planned infrastructure project connecting two Philippine towns including the phrases "open bridge" and "we can now roam around".