SOMETIME in 2017, my high school batch held one of the grandest reunions we had in one of the mesmerizing beaches in Samal Island.
Like thousands of tourists visiting the island every year, we wish that somehow during the stint of a Dabawenyo president, Samal will be connected to the mainland Davao by a bridge. By then, dwellers and visitors as well will enjoy an easy access to and from the island.
The NEDA-ICC has granted P24.04billion for the construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) project. But the implementation will take a long rest pending to the negotiation, when among the possessors refused to cede a property in the island for the government project.
Preservation of the natural environment is one of the issues raised against the bridge. Please stop talking about preservation of natural environment. It has been long damaged by the development of existing resorts in the island compared to establishing a bridge-approach.
The rationale of preserving the environment sounds lame. Much more that in the proposed creation of Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA), Samal is not included.
MDDA will comprise the string of cities and the two sandwich municipalities, from south to north, these are: Digos City, Sta. Cruz town, Davao City, Panabo City, Carmen town, Tagum City and hopefully Nabunturan town of Davao de Oro.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said, “The creation of Metropolitan Davao means that we move as one.” The planned coordination of six will focus on disaster, garbage, traffic and infrastructure.
How I wish tourism will be included in their focus, and embrace Samal; thereby pushing the Davao-Samal Bridge as part of the MDDA. As a gateway to Samal, Davao will benefit to whatever businesses Samal engages. And Samal as an island will become lonely if secluded from the development in the mainland once the planned MDDA will be implemented.
If the bridge project comes true, it can serve at least 25,000 vehicles a day in a shortest time and a distance of less than three kilometers.
Through the traditional barges, stuck of vehicles for hours would mean loss of millions to the businessmen, but a single gain only for the barge operators.
In controvert to the stated reason for the delay, we heard words which I don’t want to entertain saying that the owner of some barges sailing Davao-Samal and vice versa are owned by a family closed to the Dutertes which is why the project will be delayed as pranksters says “not during my watch”.
But as I was saying, I don’t want to buy this hearsay of political connection. What everybody wishes is the physical connection of Samal and Davao freestanding politics.