Davao City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is working its way towards the construction of the Davao-Samal Interconnector Island Bridge amidst the pandemic.
DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain said DPWH “is completing the conceptual design Davao-Samal bridge by end of September, which includes the procurement documents that are necessary before we can proceed with the bidding.”
He discussed this progress about Davao-Samal Interconnector Bridge during the Radyo Pilipinas #LagingHanda Network Briefing episode on Monday (September 07) anchored by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
“The bidding for the design and build contract will start by October to November”, he added.
The DPWH will then push to arrange “for the financing of the project through the China government through the China Infrastructure and Development Cooperation Agency”.
“They will fund this iconic bridge. The winning contractor will enter into a 5-year construction period, which will start by January next year,” Sadain explained.
Guesting on the same episode of #LagingHanda Network Briefing, Island Garden City of Samal Mayor Al David T. Uy pressed for the construction of such bridge which the Mayor said had been talked about since his childhood.
Uy revealed that DPWH personnel were in Samal since last week to do a ground survey particularly on oceanographic survey.
“We are set to talk about the areas to be surveyed this week because I believe they have till the end of September to complete the data,” Uy said.
Meanwhile, Uy said that no complaint has so far been filed that would constitute as “Writ of Kalikasan” pertaining to the construction of Samal-Davao Interconnector Bridge.
“We haven’t received anything,” he said referring to Writ of Kalikasan that was reported earlier, would be slapped against the bridge interconnector construction.
The mandate of Writ of Kalikasan is drawn from Article II Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution, which says “The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)