THE proposal to realign the Davao-Samal Bridge project was raised to the 20th City Council of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Dabaw on Tuesday, October 11.
In his privilege speech, First District Councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. questioned if the current landing site of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project (SIDC) was the best option for the project, in terms of its environmental impact and efficiency.
The landing site, which is identified to be near the Costa Marina Beach Resort and adjacent to Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in Brgy. Caliclic, Samal Island is seen to affect the reef and marine resources near the said resort.
Ecoteneo director Carmela Marie Santos, who also spoke during the 14th Regular Session on Tuesday, said the take-off site identified to be in Barangay Hizon is a marine protected area.
Abellera questioned if the take-off site, located in Barangay Hizon, is the cheapest and most efficient route that could be undertaken.
“There have been studies that show that there are other alternative locations for the landing site of the bridge. Why were these alternatives not considered? What were the criteria used for choosing the final landing site for SIDC?” Abellera said.
Santos said the design of the SIDC project will affect the people who rely on the marine life threatened by the construction of the project.
Despite being part of the Davao Gulf’s key marine biodiversity area recognized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Santos said the SIDC project only assigned a ten percent bearing as part of the criteria for choosing the landing site of the bridge.
“The environmental impact assessment report of the SIDC project, sadly, glossed over the damage to the reef and impact on marine life,” Santos said.
Marine biologist Dr. John Michael Lacson, for his part, said the Paradise Reef Ecosystem is nestled in the area between Pakiputan Strait and the western part of Samal Island where the two aforementioned resorts are located.
According to him, the Paradise Reef Ecosystem is the only living and thriving ecosystem left in that part of the island and it is under threat by the misplacement of the SIDC in the effort to kick start the project as soon as possible.
“If they put the bridge there, it will kill the reef because when they dig down to put the pillars, the sediment will go up and will be brought by the water. By the end of four years, that coral reef will be dead,” Lacson said.
Abellera added that he does not oppose the SIDC since it also promises economic prosperity.
However, the councilor, along with the two other speakers, called to reconsider the current locations of the bridge’s alignment.
“We are not against the bridge, we are only asking for a realignment. Assuming without conceding that the bridge is an economic option, let it not be at the expense of the people and marine life in Davao Gulf,” Santos said. ICM