Board Member and former Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) Mayor Al David Uy bared on Tuesday that he will be filing a resolution in their next Sangguniang Panlalawigan session to mull over the possible filing of charges against the petitioners of the Writ of Kalikasan versus the P23 billion China-funded Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project.
“Seguro we will be studying for the possible filing of charges against the petitioners. We will study the possibility, we will be filing economic sabotage against the petitioners. Pwede ang provincial government, pwede ang city government of Samal ang magfile. We will look into it, we will file a resolution,” Uy told the media.
Uy added that part of the resolution will be expressing support to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR), and the China Road and Bridge Corporation.
Recently, the Supreme Court issued a Writ of Kalikasan against the construction of the bridge and referred the case to the Court of Appeals for a possible Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO), requiring project stakeholders—including the DPWH, 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.
According to Uy, they will respect the decision of the high court.
“But the bottom line is the will of the majority. Its very clear, the people of Davao has already spoken through Mayor Baste and the people of Samal also has already spoken through Mayor Toto Reyes,” he said.
Uy also expressed optimism that the voices of the majority will be heard.
“Kabalo man ta kinsa nagpaluyo aning mga petitioners. We all know these people. Business interest gyud na siya,” he said.
Meanwhile, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said he will verify if the complaints of the petitioners have basis.
“Atoang ipa-survey kung adunay basis ang ilang reklamo,” he said.
The petitioners called for a halt to the construction activities, which according to them are damaging two critical coral ecosystems, the Paradise Reef in Samal and the Hizon Marine Protected Area in Davao City.
The governor emphasized that the construction of the bridge will have an economic impact not only to the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) but in Davao Region and in Mindanao as well.
“Invite nako ang tanan national agencies nga involved aning petition para mahatagan ug full impact nga mapaabot sa Supreme Court nga ang tulay ma-establish ug mapadayon ang construction tungod kay mao ni ang makapa boost sa economic development sa IGaCoS and the Davao Region and Mindanao,” he said.
He encouraged all the officials of the province to work together for the establishment of the bridge.
He added he will seek the help of the Regional Development Council 11 (RDC 11) and the National Economic and Development Authority 11 (NEDA) for the completion and implementation of the project.
