Analyzing the Impact of Perceived ODA Infrastructure on Regional Development Expectations among Recipient Country Residents: A Case Study of the Panguil Bay Bridge in the Philippines

Purpose: This study aims to empirically examine the pathways through which perceptions of ODA infrastructure influence local residents’ expectations for regional development. Focusing on the Panguil Bay Bridge project in the Philippines, it seeks to clarify how functional, environmental, and symbolic dimensions of infrastructure are related to development expectations and the image of the donor country. Originality: The study contributes to expanding the evaluation framework of ODA by moving beyond traditional output-based assessments to include citizens’ emotional and symbolic perceptions. It emphasizes the importance of soft power in ODA and proposes a conceptual model linking infrastructure perception to national image enhancement in the recipient country context. Methodology: A mixed-method approach was used, combining exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate key constructs. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to analyze the direct, indirect, and total effects among latent variables such as infrastructure functionality, perceived effects, development expectations, and donor country recognition. Result: The results revealed that direct effects from infrastructure functionality to development expectations were not statistically significant. However, strong indirect effects were observed through perceived socio-economic benefits—especially via Economic Revitalization (EG) and Community Quality (CQ). The symbolic and aesthetic dimensions of infrastructure also played a meaningful role in shaping citizens’ perceptions. Conclusions and Implication: The study highlights the necessity of integrating symbolic, emotional, and community- level impacts into ODA planning and evaluation. It calls for multidimensional, perception-based approaches to better reflect the actual expectations of recipient communities and to strengthen the diplomatic value of donor contributions. The findings have theoretical implications for ODA impact modeling and practical significance for project implementation and policy design.