The rhk111 Philippine Defense Updates: Phl signs Usd 400 million Contract with China for Davao-Samal Bridge

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Phl signs Usd 400 million Contract with China for Davao-Samal Bridge

Artist's Illustration of the Davao-Samal Bridge, Image by the Department of Public Works and Highways

The Philippines just signed a Usd 400 million (Php 19.32 billion at the Exchange Rate of Usd 1 = Php 48.3) Contract with China for the Design and Construction of the Samal Island-Davao Connector (SIDC) Project.

China will fund the Project thru a Loan and it is expected to break ground in the First Half (January to June) of 2021. It will take 60 Months or 5 Years for the Project to be completed.

The Main Bridge itself will be 1.62 km long, it will have 4 Lanes, Toll-Free, and will be able to accommodate 25,000 Vehicles per Day. Travel Time along the Bridge will be only around 2-5 minutes.

‘Samal Island’

I’ve been to Samal Island twice in the last couple of Years, and it is wonderful. It’s like going on a Beach-Jungle-Island Hopping Adventure without having to travel too far or too long.

Here in Luzon we are used to going on Pilgrimages just to go Beaches or Jungles, but not with Samal from Davao.

When you reach there, you instantly know you are on a new Place as the air is cooler and smells somewhat nicer, probably because of the combination of the Sea Breeze and extra Oxygen from all those Plants and Trees.

And since it is a relatively small Area, you can go to a lot of Places in one day, like go see things like Bat Caves, Waterfalls, Beaches, etc. And the view from the Coastal Roads is amazing, especially during the earlier or later parts of the Day.

There are also a number of smaller Islands to “Island Hop” to, they are accessible by small Boats which costs a bit.

‘Transport’

Right now going there from Davao takes around under an Hour if you go via Roll On-Roll Off (RORO) Vessels. Much of that time will be spent waiting for your Vehicle’s turn on the Ships especially during Rush Hours.

Then the RORO Vessel itself doesn’t travel very fast, certainly much slower than Vehicles, and that slows done the Travel Time also. You can rent small Boats from certain Areas which makes for faster travel, but is a little bit more expensive.

Once the Bridge is in place though then it will be much faster and more convenient. The best time to go there would probably before that Bridge is finished because once it is done, there will be more Structures there that will interfere with the Views.

There is also the inevitable pollution that will happen, hopefully it won’t be as much. But that is good tradeoff for me for more Jobs, Livelihoods and Businesses that will be generated.