The roadblocks to the dream Samal-Davao City bridge seem endless.
The regional office of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA 11) on Tuesday revealed that the implementation of the P23.04-billion Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project has been derailed by right of way (ROW) acquisition issue.
NEDA 11 bared that the project has been suspended since January 3, 2023, due to the right of way (ROW) acquisition issue in the Davao City side that involves 2 to 3 parcels of land.
NEDA 11 regional director Maria Lourdes Lim said that the properties, which have two owners, are located in the area where the pier of the bridge will be situated on the Davao City side.
Lim is optimistic that the ROW issue will be addressed.
“If non-negotiation, the government may resort to expropriations. But hopefully, the parties involved will come to an agreement,” Lim said during the Davao Region’s 2023 Socioeconomic Performance and 2024 Development Outlook meeting and RDC 11 Year-Starter press briefing at the NEDA 11 office in Bangkal, Davao City.
The construction of the bridge involves a toll-free 4-lane prestressed concrete (PC) extradosed bridge with a total length of 3.98 kilometers including ramps in Davao City and 24 meters 24-meter-wide road and roundabout at the Samal circumferential road.
Lim reported that as of November 2023, the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) based on the Design and Build Contract was already recorded at 83.91 percent.
“But it’s currently suspended effective January 3, 2023, due to the prevailing issues on ROW acquisition which contributed to the delays in project implementation,” she said.
The construction of the SIDC Connector project is targeted to be completed by 2027.
