This will really help boost the economic and tourism activities in Samal.

- Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib

MDM

P2 MONday | MARCH 2, 2020

By RUTH PALO

Groundbreaking for Davao-Samalbridge to push through July 1

CARGO. A car slowly gets off a ferry at the Island Garden City of Samal wharf in Davao del Norte. NEDA has said the construction of the Davao-Samal bridge is aimed at providing a “resilient and reliable transportation link between Metro Davao and IGCS.” KEITH BACONGCO/MINDANEWS

BRIDGING TWO CITIES. The bridge is intended to enhance internal mobility and external linkage to support the growth potential of the Davao Region and ease of access to tourism activities in Samal. MINDANEWS

TAGUM CITY — Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib has confirmed that the groundbreaking ceremony for the P23.04-billion 3.98-kilometer Davao City-Island Garden City of Samal (IGCS) bridge will be held on July 1, 2020.

Speaking to reporters at the Kapehan sa DavNor (Davao del Norte) at the Capitol here last week, Jubahib said President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte are expected to lead the groundbreaking of the project, which has taken years to materialize.

Jubahib said the schedule is also part of the highlights of the province’s founding anniversary.

He said all the concerns raised by a prominent family which was allegedly opposed to the project have already been addressed.

He said the family wrote a letter to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office expressing its opposition and saying it was planning to file a Writ of Kalikasan before the Supreme Court because of the road right of way issue.

A Writ of Kalikasan is a legal remedy under the law that provides protection of one’s constitutional right to a healthy environment.

Jubahib, however, said the case was never filed since it had no basis.

“Walay substance ilang reklamo. Wala na pod kini nakaabot sa korte,” he said.

(The complaint had no substance. It never reached the court.)Final stage

Jubahib said the planned Davao-Samal bridge will traverse Davao Gulf from the areas where Davao Beach Club is located along R. Castillo and Daang Maharlika Junction in Davao City going to Barangays Caliclic and Limao, Babak District in Samal.

It was learned that this is the shortest distance between IGCS and Davao City and complies with the geographical requirement set by law.

Jubahib said the Regional Development Council (RDC), National Economic Devel-opment Authority (NEDA), DPWH, Department of En-vironment and Natural Re-sources (DENR), and Davao City through Mayor Sara have agreed to push through with the scheduled groundbreaking since the project is now on its final stage as far as the engi-neering design is concerned.

Last January, Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado confirmed that the money to support all foreign-funded projects is now readily available.

NEDA had earlier said the

construction of the Davao-Samal bridge is aimed at providing a “resilient and reliable transportation link between Metro Davao and IGCS, enhancing internal mobility and external linkage to support the growth potential of the Davao Region” and “ease of access to tourism activities in Samal.”

The bridge also aims to enhance community access to employment, education, and other social services as well as serve as alternative routes during emergency situations and disasters.

According to “The Study on the Davao Integrated De-velopment Program (DIDP) Master Planning March 1999” by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the bridge was recommended because Samal has “a high potential for high-grade resi-dential development, environ-ment-friendly industrial es-tate, and cultural and financial centers under the BIMP-EAGA scheme as well as resort devel-opment due to its adjacency to the city.”

The JICA study said the project is urgently needed for land transportation because of the high development potential of Samal and the expectation of rapid progress in development and security of about 100,000 residents and around 700,000 tourists.

“Considering the state that the number of tourists and travelers who use the ferries are remarkably increasing, the economic loss generated by the waiting time for ferry is increasing year by year,” it added.Boosting the economy and tourism

“This will really help boost the economic and tourism activities in Samal,” Jubahib said.

The project involves the construction of a toll-free four-lane bridge (two lanes each direction) with an approximate length of 2.80 kilometers, a width of 24.2 meters, and a vertical clearance of 45 meters that can serve around 25,000 vehicles a day.

It will also include the con-struction of interchanges with the existing road network, lo-cal existing junction improve-ments, viaducts over sections of land, and approach bridges over marine area.

Jubahib gave assurance that no residents will be dis-placed once the construction starts.

Mayor Sara has already said she is optimistic the long-time dream of connecting the Samal to Davao will be realized as this is one of the Build, Build, Build projects under President Duterte’s administration.