DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 10 June) – The actual construction of the controversial Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) bridge is now in full swing amid the objections from various local environmental groups that are calling for the project’s realignment to save the “Paradise Reef,” which marine biologists consider as an “important gene bank of marine biodiversity.”
Engr. Rodrigo Delos Reyes, project director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Unified Project Management Office-Bridges Management Cluster (UPMO-BMC), said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday that the Chinese contractor has already commenced the work on the foundation of the bridge, such as the laying of bored piles.
The construction of the bridge was awarded to China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a subsidiary of state-owned China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC).
Delos Reyes added that 21 have already been completed, out of the 74 bored piles that need to be put in place along the current alignment of the SIDC project.
The bridge will be constructed across the Pakiputan Strait.
He said that much of the work now is the underwater construction of the bored piles, which serve as the “very foundation” of the bridge, but added that the public may likely see construction of some structures above water by November this year.
He added that the completion rate of the bridge project is currently at 4.197% while the detailed engineering design is at 94% and will be completed next month.
Delos Reyes said the government had moved the target completion of the project from 2027 to September 2028, which is beyond the six-year term of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who will step down from power on June 30, 2028.
Marcos led the groundbreaking of the 3.98-kilometer bridge project on October 27, 2022.
Delos Reyes said that there were “minor delays” in the construction due to the road right-of- way issues with the property owners on the Samal side, but added that the government obtained last January this year a writ of possession from the court over the property of the Rodriguez-Lucas family, following expropriation proceedings.
The landing point of the SIDC project in Samal Island is situated at the Costa Marina Beach Resort, which is adjacent to Paradise Island Park & Beach Resort, in Barangay Limao, Babak District.
The Rodriguez-Lucas family owns both resorts.
On the Davao City side, the landing point is situated at R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction in Barangay Hizon, crossing over a marine protected area as indicated in the city’s Comprehensive Land-Use Plan (CLUP) 2018-2028.
The environmental groups, including Rodriguez-Lucas family, opposed the current alignment of the SIDC project as it may destroy the Paradise Reef, a contiguous reef regarded by marine experts as a “hidden treasure” and an “important gene bank of marine creatures.”
The SIDC costs P23 billion, P19.3 billion of which comes from a loan from the Chinese government.
According to DPWH, the project will “provide a resilient and reliable transportation link between Metro Davao and Samal Island, enhancing internal mobility and external linkage to support the growth potential of Davao region.”
It added the bridge would also provide ease of access to tourism activities in Samal, enhance community access to employment, education and other social services, and alternative routes during emergency situations and disasters.
The construction of a toll-free four-lane bridge – with two lanes each direction – can serve around 25,000 vehicles a day between Davao City and Samal crossing over Pakiputan Strait, according to DPWH.
Delos Reyes declined to comment on the environmental issues raised by Sustainable Davao Movement, an association of various environmental and civic groups, as there is an ongoing case before the court.
“Anybody could allege anything to somebody. Pero ayaw ko na pong mag salita kasi… napasa na ito sa court (But I do not want to talk about it because it’s already filed in court),” he said.
He maintained that the landing points on both sides of the bridge are outside the protected areas.
Carmela Marie Santos, Ecoteneo executive director, said that “centennial” table corals have been destroyed due to the drilling activities.
“What we feared two years ago has now been happening,” she said.
Delos Reyes said that “dust curtains” will be installed to mitigate the impact of construction activities on the marine ecosystem. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
