MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos will lead the highly-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) bridge project, which is expected to spur tourism and economic progress in Davao.

The President, together with other national and local officials, is set to grace the event on Thursday, October 27, signifying the start of the construction of the PHP23-billion two-way, four-lane bridge.

Set to be built by engineering company China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the bridge, with a total length of 3.98 kilometers, will connect the Samal Circumferential Road in the Island Garden City of Samal to the R. Castillo –Daang Maharlika junction in Davao City.

Upon completion, it is expected to shorten travel time from Davao City to Samal from around 30 minutes via ferry to merely 5 minutes.

The bridge will be constructed within five years and is set to be completed and operationalized in 2027.

The construction of the bridge will be funded through a loan agreement worth US$350 million or PHP18.67 billion entered into between the Philippines and China.

The Chinese loan will cover 90 percent of the project cost.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian is also expected to witness the groundbreaking ceremony.

Aside from the groundbreaking, the President is also scheduled to lead the distribution of various government assistance to individuals in crisis and other people in need.

The chief executive is also set to attend a situation briefing where he will be apprised of the current state of the region in terms of food security, infrastructure development, trade and commerce, among others.

Marcos is also expected to visit the soldiers of the Eastern Mindanao Command to discuss pressing issues involving military services. (PND)