The Samal Island- Davao City Connector (SIDC) project (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY – The PHP23 billion bridge project connecting this city and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) is still a go contrary to reports that it has been suspended, an official said Wednesday.
In a statement, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Tereso Magno clarified the issue, saying he called up Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Emil Sadain to verify if the project was indeed suspended, as claimed by National Economic Development Authority-11 director Ma. Lourdes Lim in a report.
In a press briefing Tuesday, Lim revealed that the implementation of the Samal Island- Davao City Connector (SIDC) project has been suspended since November last year until Jan. 3 this year.
“As of November 2023, the detailed engineering design of the design and build contract was already at 83.91 percent. This is proceeding but the project in general was suspended due to ongoing negotiations on the right of way acquisition issue on the Davao City side,” she said.
Magno, however, said there is no truth to such a report and that the project remains one of the priority projects of the Marcos administration in the Davao region.
“I called DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan who also informed me that the project will push through as planned. Apart from that, he also told me that the completion of the Davao City Coastal Road from Times Beach going to Bucana would also push through,” Magno clarified.
He cautioned officials from unnecessarily giving unverified information to the public.
Magno noted that he has been pushing for the SIDC project since it would be greatly beneficial not just to the two neighboring cities but the entire region as well.
The scenic bridge project crossing Pakiputan Strait will have landing points at the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, IGACOS, and Davao City along the R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction.
The SIDC bridge has a length of 3.9 kilometers, including ramps in Davao City and a 24-meter wide grade road and roundabout at the Samal circumferential road.
Once completed, the bridge will be a four-lane, cable-stayed iconic conduit with a vertical navigational clearance of up to 47 meters.
The SIDC is expected to accommodate up to 25,000 vehicles daily and reduce travel time between Samal and Davao City to five minutes, compared to the existing 30-minute ferry boat ride. (PNA)
