RoW sets back bridge

The much-anticipated Samal Island-Davao City Connector project is currently facing an uphill battle, grappling with a series of setbacks revolving around the complex issue of "right-of-way."

This, according to Director General Li Lin of the Fujian Provincial Foreign Affairs Office.

Citing his site visit in March, Li said "there was not much progress" since the groundbreaking in 2022, led by former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary, now Senator Mark Villar.

In a previous interview, Public Works chief Manuel Bonoan confirmed that the project had encountered some legal issues involving several landowners in Samal who are refusing to provide road right of way.

Ready for project

Li said the China Road and Bridge Corp. is keen and "more than ready" to implement the project despite some setbacks.

"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 said.

He added: "As far as I know, the Chinese company undertaking this project — China Road and Bridge — has been in Davao for a long time. They are more than ready to implement that project."