DAVAO CITY — A notice to proceed was issued on Thursday, Sept. 1, to the Chinese contractor of the highly anticipated Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) connector project, an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.
DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain said that a geotechnical survey commenced last week in preparation for the actual construction of the bridge project.
China Road and Bridge Corp. (CRBC) was selected as the contractor for the project, according to the DPWH.
Sadain said the groundbreaking has yet to be scheduled as it is still confirming the schedule of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who will grace the ceremony.
The project will be completed in 60 months or five years.
Last June 13, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian exchanged with then Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III the signed Framework Agreement and Loan Agreement between the Philippines and China for a loan grant worth $350 million or P18.67 billion for the bridge project.
The Chinese loan will cover 90 percent of the project’s ₱23.039-billion price tag, according to DPWH.
The landing point of the SIDC project, also known as the Davao City-Samal Bridge, is situated on the coast of Costa Marina Beach Resort, which is adjacent to Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in Barangay Caliclic, Babak District, Samal Island.
On Davao City side, the landing point is the R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction.
The DPWH said that the project has a total length of 3.98 kilometers, including Davao ramps and at grade road and roundabout in Samal, with a width of 24 meters and a vertical navigational clearance up to 47 meters.
Sadain said the project will increase economic activities in the region upon its completion. “The project, once completed, can boost economic progress in Davao region and its adjacent areas,” he said.