DAVAO CITY — The feasibility study for the long-dreamed P1.19-billion Samal Bridge now at work.
The ground work is expected to kick off by 2019.
The pre-feasibility study, was undertaken by Katahira and Engineers International, a Japan-based civil engineering consultancy firm.
As it is now, tourist and residents need to pay P20 for ten minute ferry or a boat tide while car owners pay P200 for SUV while P50 for a motorbike. Higher charges are imposed on hauler trucks.
Dean Ortiz, spokesperson of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) XI told Newsline.ph “The project on it’s feasibility study stage and we are looking forward for the smooth implementation.”
The bridge will connect Davao City and Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte.
The P1.19 billion has been earmarked this year for the tourism road convergence project on Davao-Samal bridge.
The bridge is expected to accelerate economic and tourism growth in Davao Region.
Regional Development Council-Davao Vice-chairperson and National Economic and Development Authority-Davao Director Maria Lourdes Lim in a media interview said the bridge’s pre-feasibility study was already done last September 2015.
“The pre-feasibility study was already completed. The detailed engineering design is underway whcih might be completed within the year,” she said.
As proposed, the Davao side of the bridge will be constructed near the Paradise Island port in Sasa and the Samal side will be near the private Sunset resort in Babak, IGACOS.
The leaders involving the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP) which was once chaired by President
Rodrigo Duterte pushed for the project but it was not realize by the previous administration.
Duterte, after winning the elections said he will make the dream come true.
Ortiz said the bridge project provide smooth access among residents and tourists road access to Igacos, which means more economic benefit for the region.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph
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