An official of the local government of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) disclosed to Edge Davao that ferry boat owners servicing the Davao City-IGaCoS ferry are planning to reroute their services to Talikud Island and Pantukan in Davao de Oro once the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project is completed.
Samal City Information officer Michael Anthony Homez in an interview said that seven ferry boats are currently servicing passengers from Davao City to Samal.
He said when the bridge is completed a ferry boat owner is planning to reroute his service from Samal to Kingking in Pantukan while the other investor is eyeing to service the Kaputian to Talikud Island route.
“It is expected na ang mainland Samal mudaghan na ang traffic tungod sa tulay so mukusog na ang adventure sa island. So ang Talikud karon gina-prepare na namo naa nami government center and roads are currently being concreted in preparation sa tulay. Ready na ang Talikud to cater for another set of tourists,” Homez said.
Homez said the timeline given by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the LGU of Samal is 2027 or 2028 for the completion of the bridge.
A facility, which will serve as the temporary headquarters for the Chinese workers that will build the bridge, is now being built in Samal. Its construction signals the beginning of the bridge’s construction.
Meanwhile, Homez is optimistic that the bridge will also address the long queue at the wharfs going to Samal.
“Grabe ang linya kung Saturdays, Sundays, and during summer but other than that pagkagabii gamay na lang ang galinya. The solution is coming na, yung tulay man gyud ang solution,” he said.
