Setbacks in Samal-Davao bridge project due to ‘right-of-way’ issues

The Samal Island-Davao City Connector project is currently confronting setbacks due to the issues concerning "right-of-way," according Director General of the Fujian Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, Li Lin.

Citing his site visit in March, Li said "there was not much progress" since the groundbreaking in 2022, which was led by former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary, now Senator Mark Villar.
In a previous interview, incumbent DPWH chief, Manuel Bonoan confirmed that the project has encountered some legal issues involving several landowners in Samal who are refusing to provide road right of way.

Despite some setbacks, Li said the China Road and Bridge Corp. is keen and "more than ready" to implement the project.
"I heard with regret that it was because of the availability of road rights (right of way). Hopefully, we can find ways to settle these kinds of concerns and problems," he noted.
"As far as I know, the Chinese company undertaking this project – China Road and Bridge – has been in Davao for a very long time. They are more than ready to implement that project," Li continued.

Li hopes for the immediate resolution of the issues concerning the project.

"We hope that both sides can speed up our cooperation. Government of all levels and also people of different areas can also reach consensus as long as we prove that these projects are beneficial to the socio-economic progress in the country," he stressed.

The construction of the P23.04 billion toll-free bridge project, with the original completion target date set in 2027, is being funded through China's Official Development Assistance., noting that the original completion target date was set in 2027.

Once completed, the bridge will have a four-lane, cable-stayed iconic conduit with a vertical navigational clearance of up to 47 meters.

This bridge project crossing Pakiputan Strait will have landing points at the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, Island Garden City of Samal, and Davao City between the R. Castillo and the Daang Maharlika junction.

It has a length of 3.9 kilometers–including ramps in Davao City and a 24-meter wide grade road and roundabout in Samal Circumferential Road–and is expected to accommodate up to 25,000 vehicles daily.

Once operational, the bridge is eyed to reduce travel time between Samal and Davao City to only five minutes, compared to the existing 30-minute ferry boat ride.