DAVAO CITY - Local Government officials expressed their gratitude to former President Rodrigo Duterte and current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the soon-to-be realized bridge project that will connect the Island Garden City of Samal and Davao City.

“Dako kayo kug pasalamat sa atong mga national leaders na gitagaan ug dakong pagtagad ang maong project na gisugdan ni atong former President his excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte (My huge gratitude to our national leaders for attending to the project which was started by former President his excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte),” says Governor Edwin Jubahib of Davao del Norte.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte during his term started negotiations with China for a loan to realize the construction of the Samal Island- Davao City Bridge which has long been a dream for many residents of the two areas.  A commercial contract was signed between China and the Philippines in January 14, 2021 in which China would finance $400 million for the bridge this started the loan negotiations.

On June 13, 2022 the two countries signed the loan agreement for the Samal Island- Davao City Connector Project (the formal project name of the bridge). A $350 million loan (Php 17.4 billion) will cover 90% of the Php 23.039 billion total cost of the 3.98-kilometer bridge.

President Marcos and Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte led officials in the groundbreaking ceremony of the bridge project held last October 27 at the Lanang beach in Davao City.

For Davao City Second District Congressman Vincent Garcia the bridge will bring much needed convenience to travelers between the two areas noting that commuters endure long waiting time to board the barges that will take them to the island and back to the mainland.

“This project is long awaited by the people, here you can see the big traffic when you go to the island vice-versa. The waiting time is too long. I personally experienced it two months ago I spent two hours waiting for us to get to the barge,” Cong. Garcia said.

Mayor Al David Uy the local chief executive of the Island Garden City of Samal said the project took 40 years to be realized and said he is very thankful to the two Presidents.

“We’re very happy finally after forty years nandito na (it is here) at malaki aking pasasalamat (huge gratitude) kay former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for spearheading project at of course malaki aking pasasalamat kay President Bongbong Marcos for making this into a reality,” Mayor Uy said.

According to Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan the project will take five years to complete and as to environmental issues he said this has been exhaustively addressed by his deparment together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (PIA/RG Alama)