ISLAND Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Mayor Al David Uy said the completion of the long-awaited Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project (Samal-Davao Bridge) might be implemented during the administration of incoming President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.
Uy said in a radio interview on Thursday, May 19 that the start of the bridge construction under the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, who is set to step down on June 30, 2022, won't be possible considering that the loan agreement between the Philippines and Chinese government has yet to be finalized.
Despite the delays in the said big ticket project, he said that, at least, the loan agreement would be settled before Duterte's term ends.
As for the completion of the bridge, he said in jest that the President's daughter, outgoing Davao City Mayor and presumptive president Sara Duterte-Carpio would be leading the ribbon cutting.
"Diha na magsugod [sa administration ni Bongbong Marcos]. Mahuman na kung makaluy-an si Inday [Sara Duterte-Carpio] na ang president sa 2028. Muagi pa og isa ka presidente... isa ka administrasyon.
Kaluy-an si Mayor Inday na [ma-presidente], magamit na (The construction will start in the administration of Bongbong Marcos. Hopefully, it will be finished under the administration of future President Inday in 2028. It would take another administration before the project will be completed. By the administration of Duterte-Carpio, it is already open to motorists)," the mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
Uy said the construction of the bridge would only commence if the loan agreement is approved. The budget for the bridge, he said, will be 90 percent loan from China and the remaining 10 percent will be sourced from the budget of the national government.
He added that the budget for the road right of way acquisition (RROW) for Samal side will be taken from the Chinese loan while on the side of Davao City, it will be taken from the 10 percent national budget. He said the RROW acquisition will start in Davao City.
On January 14, 2021, the Philippine and Chinese governments signed a commercial contract for China to finance around $400 million for the SIDC. The two governments began loan agreement negotiations following the signing of the commercial contract.
Earlier, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain said the Davao-Samal Bridge construction is targeted to commence in the second quarter of 2022 and will be completed in 2026.
The SIDC is a two-way four-lane 3.86-km bridge with the main bridge having a length of 1.62-km long.
The China-funded project is envisioned as a modern bridge that will connect the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, Island Garden City of Samal to Davao City in between R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction.
The Davao-Samal bridge is one of the big-ticket projects of the Duterte administration.