THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project is already at 40 percent completion rate.
Emil K. Sadain, senior undersecretary of DPWH, said during his site inspection on Friday, July 18, 2025, that the department has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the highest standards in terms of quality, safety, and environmental stewardship in the construction of the bridge.
"To maintain water quality during the construction of bridge columns and foundations, silt curtains and sediment control measures have been deployed. Construction practices follow environmental best practices, including the immediate removal of debris or concrete waste from marine areas," he said.
Sadain added that environment safeguards have been central in the construction of the bridge and that their goal is to protect the marine ecosystem of Pakiputan Strait. He said that a comprehensive environmental assessment, which is in line with the alignment and design, will be done to minimize impact on the marine diversity and water flow.
In a statement, DPWH said that the bridge's design allows for unimpeded longshore currents, ensuring there is free circulation in the sea and maintaining ecological balance in the strait.
The agency said that they are working closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which has been conducting dive assessments to monitor the seagrass bed, shallow waters, marine protected areas, and deep-water zones that have been affected by construction activities.
The SIDC is a four-lane extradosed bridge that spans to 4.76 kilometers (km) linking Davao City and Samal Island. It connects R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika Junction in Davao City to the Circumferential Road. Once operational, the bridge is expected to accommodate about 25,000 vehicles daily.
SIDC incorporates marine and land viaducts, approach roads, ramps, and the main bridge span designed for road and maritime transport. The main bridge measures about 275 meters and features a 47-meter vertical navigation clearance. It has two pylons measuring about 77 meters above sea level, which is the maximum allowable height set by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in line with its proximity to the Davao International Airport (DIA). The bridge would also cut travel time from Davao City to Samal from 55 minutes by ferry to just 4.5 minutes.
The SC issued a Writ of Kalikasan on July 1 against DPWH, DENR, Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board, and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), and gave them 10 days to file a verified return, while the prayer for the Temporary Environmental Protection Order (Tepo) was referred to the CA in Cagayan de Oro and was denied.
The petitioners of the Writ of Kalikasan then expressed strong disappointment over the CA’s denial of Tepo, citing that the order would have halted the ongoing construction that has damaged Paradise Reef in Samal and the Hizon Marine Protected Area in Davao City. RGP