An official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) told Edge Davao that the loan negotiation for the construction of the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project between the Department of Finance (DOF) and China Eximbank is still in progress.
“Negotiation is a continuing process and is not that easy. DOF is doing their job,” Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil Sadain said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government and the Philippine government have signed the commercial contract of the China-financed $400 million SIDC project on Jan. 14, 2021.
One of the key cooperation projects between China, PH under the “Build, build, build” program, SIDC project is a 2-way 4-lane 3.86-km bridge to connect the Island Garden City of Samal to Davao City across the Pakiputan Strait. The main bridge is 1.62km long and will be designed in a cable-stayed structure with the twin towers and double cable planes according to the Chinese Embassy.
The P23.04 billion bridge, which will span 2.8 kilometers, will be funded through official development assistance. The final bridge landing sites will be in R. Castillo Street, Agdao on the Davao City side and in Barangay Caliclic in Samal.
On his end, Lawyer Ramon Edison Batacan, legal counsel of the Rodriguez Family, disclosed that they are just waiting for things to unfold before they will make their legal move against all concerned personalities.
It can be recalled that the Rodriguez Family, who owns Paradise Island and Beach Resort and the Costa Marina Beach Resort in Samal, has requested DPWH for the re-alignment of the bridge in view of its adverse environmental impacts.
