Davao-Samal bridge to accelerate region’s growth

THE Davao-Samal bridge will accelerate economic and tourism growth in Davao Region.

This, according to a tourism player based in Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), Davao del Norte Remigio Garcia, owner of Bali Bali Beach Resort saying the absence of it will stagnate the island’s development.

“The bridge is very important not just for the resorts but to all the residents (in Samal),” he said in a press conference on Friday, November 25, at the sidelines of the resort's re-launch.

He said they have long wanted the project to be realized. Now, they are all in high hopes as the current provincial and city officials and President Rodrigo Duterte himself are strongly pushing for the infrastructure project.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH), a total of P1.19 billion has been earmarked this year for the tourism road convergence project on Davao-Samal bridge.

The DPWH said the bridge project will also give tourists road access to Igacos. The agency said that the project has a lot of economic benefits and will reduce traffic.

Regional Development Council-Davao Vice-chairperson and National Economic and Development Authority-Davao Director Maria Lourdes Lim said the bridge's pre-feasibility study was already done last September 2015.

“The pre-feasibility study was already completed. The detailed engineering design is underway,” she said, adding the detailed engineering design is expected to be completed within the year.

The pre-feasibility study was conducted by Katahira and Engineers International, a Japan-based civil engineering consultancy firm.

The pre-feasibility study is a preliminary research of a project that will determine if it is up for a feasibility study stage.

Garcia also cited that their problem in power can also be addressed by installing the project.

“We have been connected for years through a submarine cable and it was hit by some of the ship’s anchors for a couple of times, maybe if the bridge will be constructed, the power line will be connected through it and we will not be able to experience week-long brownouts anymore,” Garcia said.

In a previous report, the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. is looking into the installation of overhead power transmission lines to replace the 30-year-old power submarine cable system connecting Igacos to the main grid.

“The bridge, once constructed, will surely become a game changer as it is seen as a crucial support to tourism and services sectors, the region's major growth drivers,” Garcia said.