ISLAND Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Mayor Al David Uy admitted the possible delay of the construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project (Davao-Samal Bridge) due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Uy said on Friday afternoon, April 24, the construction delay of the bridge is attributed to the imposed community quarantine.
“Isa na siya, but hopefully dili madisgrasya atong budget. Unta dili ma-realign. Isa ni sa among ginaampo namo (It is one of the reasons. But hopefully it won’t be the cause for the budget’s realignment. We are hoping it won’t happen),” the mayor said in an interview on GMA’s One Mindanao.
He said the groundbreaking of the Davao-Samal Bridge will commence on July 1, as announced by Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib.
Jubahib said the groundbreaking will be held simultaneously at Azuela Cove in Davao City and Barangay Caliclic in Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos)--the two points interconnecting the planned bridge.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), in November 2019, granted several projects in the country. These include the Davao-Samal Bridge, and the High Priority Bus System (HPBS).
Neda-ICC granted P23.04 billion, through an Official Development Assistance (ODA), which aims to provide a permanent road linkage between Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) that would reduce travel time and reliability constraints currently experienced through the use of ferry services.
However, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio revealed in January that a family, whose property will be covered in the Davao-Samal Bridge’s road right of way, filed a written opposition to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Duterte-Carpio said the family is also going to file a writ of Kalikasan against the project.
A writ of Kalikasan is a legal remedy under Philippine law that provides protection of one’s constitutional right to a healthy environment.
Jubahib, however, assured that the environment would be protected throughout the phases of the bridge construction.
Uy, for his part, hoped everything would go back to normal as many government projects in the island were affected due to the extreme measures implemented in response to Covid-19.
The mayor said they are currently placed under modified community quarantine (MCQ), despite being a political affiliate of Davao del Norte.
Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), on Friday, April 24, announced the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Davao del Norte, along with Davao de Oro, and Davao City.
Jubahib, on Friday evening, revoked its earlier executive order placing the entire Davao del Norte except Igacos on MCQ, and formally extended the ECQ, as ordered by the IATF-EID, on May 15.
Uy said Igacos remains to have zero Covid-19 case as of the writing. (with reports from PNA)