Tuesday, February 27, 2007 Mayor: Samal-Davao bridge might bring more woes than gains
A PROPOSED bridge linking Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) may bring more problems that benefits, Igacos Mayor Rogelio Antalan said during Monday's Kapehan sa Dabaw.
The plan to build a bridge to link the two cities to hasten travel has been proposed more than a decade ago and highlighted in a study made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
But Antalan said that with the construction of a multi-million-peso bridge that would link the island city to the mainland, informal settlers and other adverse effects of development might plague the city.
Aside from informal settlers, Antalan also fears that prostitution and illegal drugs would proliferate in the island.
The identified "bridge site" is in the area where the present ferry is located, which in the Davao City side is surrounded by settlements that abound with gangs and gangster activities.
Antalan said if ever there will be development in the island city, it should not be contradictory to the maintenance of environmental balance.
The island city, he said, is aiming for an ecologically viable form of development.
"The people of Samal have not yet decided as to what they really want," the mayor said.
Antalan, who is now on last term as mayor, added that he will not be running for any government position in the coming May elections. (CPM)
