DAVAO CITY — “We assure you that no coral will be affected during the construction phase,” this was the assurance of Engr. Joey Tulaylay, the project manager of the P19.3-billion Samal Island- Davao City Connector (SIDC) on Saturday as he faced the leaders of the island on Saturday.
Tulaylay said they conducted a study on the state of the corals within the shores of Paradise Island “The study showed that the corals in paradise island is in a poor condition, even before the project starts but we will rehabilitate it because the government needs to protect the environment.”
The Rodriguez family who owns Paradise Beach Resort and the Lucas family who owns Costa Marina earlier opposed to the construction of the bridge saying it will destroy the marine resources.
However, recently, they claim they are not opposed to the project but they want the government to realign the project because they protected the corals in their area for the last four decades.
But the DPWH study says otherwise.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib “The plan was shown to us and the DPWH assured me that the marine resources including the corals will not be destroyed because the boreholes will be constructed with caution and they also presented to me a rehabilitation plan for the marine resources because they know that the corals in the contested property are on its poor condition, as it is not.”
Jubahid revealed the project does not only focus on bridge construction but includes marine protection and the opposition must consider that the people have been waiting for that bridge.
Tulaylay emphasized that contrary to the claims of the Rodriguez-Lucas property owners, “there was a consultation between the owners and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Despite the opposition, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, in a press conference revealed “Tuloy na ‘yan (It will be realized).
Balisacan, Tulaylay along with Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib and Island Garden City of Samal Mayor Al David Uy inspected the landing site at Barangay Caliclic on Saturday.
According to Uy “If the marine resources and corals will be damaged, the city government will make sure that everything will be rehabilitated “Here in the Island Garden City of Samal, our garden in the beauty of the underwater and we cannot afford to just destroy, we have the responsibility to protect our natural resources because that it is what our city is all about.”
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said Saturday some members of the family went with him to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Manila on October 3 to discuss the issue.
“It was explained that the construction includes the protection of the corals and there is no reason for resistance. Let us consider the millions of people who clamor for this project to materialize,” he said during a public consultation.
National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and officials of the provincial and local governments met with various stakeholders over the weekend to discuss the concerns about the PHP19.3-billion four-lane bridge that is targeted for completion in 2027.
Forty-three out of 46 village leaders of Samal attended the consultation and everyone threw full support for the project.
Jubahib told the village leaders that the realization of the bridge would boost the economy and tourism of the island.
