Photo courtesy: DPWH
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Council expressed serious concerns on the possible economic impact on the region’s economy should the Supreme Court’s Writ of Kalikasan lead to a suspension of the construction of the vital Samal Island–Davao City bridge.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chair of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, warned that halting the P23-billion bridge construction could have profound implications for both Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal, potentially derailing infrastructure development and burdening taxpayers and island inhabitants.
“Any delay in the project affects not just infrastructure but public finances as well. We are still accountable for interests and amortization even if they will postpone the construction, impacting taxpayers directly,” Dayanghirang said.
The councilor also noted that continued reliance on the current ferry transport system would sustain high travel costs and inefficiencies, hurting local businesses and commuters.
“The economic losses are mounting—lost opportunities for trade and productivity,” he added, stressing the need for a “humanized, win-win solution.”
In response to growing tensions surrounding the project, the City Council passed a resolution inviting both the petitioners of the Writ of Kalikasan and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways to a regular session on July 15 for a public dialogue on the project’s status and broader implications.
The resolution, authored by Dayanghirang, reaffirmed the council’s support for the bridge while committing to environmental laws and sustainable development. He clarified that the council’s invitation does not seek to intervene in the legal process but promotes transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr., chair of the Committee on Socialized Housing Projects, emphasized the importance of respecting the judicial process, invoking the sub judice rule. He recommended open discussions with the involved parties instead of actions that could be construed as interference.
The SIDC is a flagship infrastructure project spanning 3.98 kilometers, intended to improve connectivity between Davao City and Samal.
However, it has drawn criticism from environmental advocates and resort operators who are concerned about its potential damage to marine biodiversity, particularly in areas like Paradise Reef and the Hizon Marine Protected Area.
The higher court’s writ, issued en banc on July 1, was directed at the DPWH, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board, and the China Road and Bridge Corporation.
The petitioners—comprising environmental groups and civil society leaders—allege the project poses “serious and irreversible damage” to marine ecosystems. The coral reef being referred to by environmental foundations have already been traversed by the ongoing construction.
The complainants also skipped the fact that the narrow Pakiputan Strait is the route of domestic and foreign cargo vessels and had been constantly polluted by silt from flood water from various rivers in Davao del Norte and waterways in Davao City. (By Ivy Tejano)
