DESPITE apprehensions on the Tagum City Flyover project, a Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH) Davao official said the project is necessary to spur development in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
Dean Ortiz, DPWH Davao information officer, urged critics of the project to look at the brighter side despite the issues the project is facing right now.
“Some people at this point in time do not realize the benefits of having that flyover in the main highway, maybe because they are just looking on the perspective of ‘now.’ But let us wait what will happen in the next five to 10 years. Tagum City is now becoming a hub next to Davao City. So much development is already pouring in that part of the region and this is in anticipation of its future growth,” Ortiz said.
He said there are those in the business sector who have been apprehensive about the project.
"But since they are from that sector, they should be the one to understand that it is for them. They should also have the idea on what is going to happen in that city in the future and traffic will be one of the major problems by then. This is actually for the development of Tagum. This project will help their businesses,” Ortiz added.
The estimated total cost of the project is P2.49 billion for the 1.035-kilometer bridge. Ortiz said the project is now 75 percent funded.
“With regard to funding, 75 percent is already funded. That is P1.87 billion out of the total cost of the project. The phases were completed in 2017 and 2018,” Ortiz said.
The project is targeted to be completed by 2021.
For 2019, the regional office will request an additional P500 million augmentation budget to continue this year. The budget for 2019 for the bridge is P1 billion but only half of it was released to them.
An additional of P120 million will also be requested in 2020 for the completion of the project.