Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has voiced concern over delays in the China-funded Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project following a recent Supreme Court decision issuing a Writ of Kalikasan against its construction. The P23-billion infrastructure initiative, long envisioned to connect Davao City with Samal Island, now faces legal scrutiny over environmental risks.
On Tuesday, the high court referred the case to the Court of Appeals for a possible Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO), requiring project stakeholders—including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Board, and China Road and Bridge Corporation—to respond within ten days.
The action follows an April petition filed by environmental advocates Carmela Marie Santos, Mark Peñalver, and the Sustainable Davao Movement, who argue the bridge threatens marine ecosystems and protected landscapes.
Mayor Duterte, addressing the halt, stressed the importance of balancing ecological concerns with inclusive development goals aimed at uplifting vulnerable communities. “Yet today we face a halt that serves a few powerful interests while leaving ordinary people waiting,” he remarked.
Duterte emphasized that the project would deliver safer and more cost-effective travel, boost trade and tourism, and generate local employment. He called for stakeholders to “reflect on whether their objections genuinely prioritize environmental protection, or merely serve to preserve private commercial interests.”
While reaffirming his commitment to environmental stewardship, Duterte maintained the bridge underwent rigorous assessments and complied with regulatory requirements. “I fully support sustainable development and responsible stewardship of natural resources,” he stated.
Recognizing the authority of the Supreme Court, Duterte appealed for legal fairness and a broader understanding of how this decision affects thousands of Dabawenyos and Samaleños. “Progress must serve not just a few, but the greater good,” he concluded.
The coming days will determine whether the Court of Appeals grants a TEPO, possibly halting the project’s advancement indefinitely, or whether construction will resume pending further environmental clarifications.
