Samal-Davao bridge construction continues despite SC writ
Published Jul 2, 2025 09:03 pm
CONSTRUCTION continues at the highly-anticipated bridge that would link Davao City and Samal Island on Wednesday, July 2. The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a Writ of Kalikasan against the project and has referred the case for a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) to the Court of Appeals (CA). The P23.4-billion Samal Island–Davao Connector (SIDC) project being built by China Road and Bridge Corp. (CRBC) is expected to be completed in 2027. (Keith Bacongco)
DAVAO CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao (DPWH-11) said Wednesday that construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) project is continuing despite the Supreme Court (SC) issuing a Writ of Kalikasan concerning the project.
In an interview, DPWH-11 spokesperson Dean Ortiz said the department has not yet officially received a copy of the writ.
“As of now, we do not have any instructions coming from the court (whether) to suspend or stop the project. So, we will continue,” he added.
The High Court on Tuesday issued a Writ of Kalikasan on a case seeking to halt the SIDC project.
It named respondents to the case, including the DPWH, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board, and China Road and Bridge Corp., to file a verified return on the petition within 10 days from service of the writ.
Ortiz said stopping the construction would result in a significant waste of time and resources, negatively impacting the project, which he said is now at 38.08 percent completed.
“We are hopeful that the project will continue. As far as we are concerned, we have complied with every guideline there is as to protecting the environment while the project is ongoing,” he added.
Meanwhile, environmental groups APILA, Green Juris, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) Inc., and Ecoteneo welcomed the SC’s decision, which stemmed from the petition filed by environmental advocates Carmela Marie Santos, Mark Peñalver, and the Sustainable Davao Movement in April this year.
“The Court’s issuance of the writ sends a strong signal: No development, no matter how grand or well-funded, is above the law – especially when it threatens the environment and the lives and livelihoods of communities,” the groups said in a joint statement.
The petitioners raised concerns that the SIDC Project could inflict irreversible damage on vital marine ecosystems, particularly Paradise Reef in Samal Island and the Hizon Marine Protected Area in Davao City.
'Abide by law'
In compliance with the SC’s directive, Ortiz said the DPWH, as one of the named respondents in the Writ of Kalikasan petition, will abide by the Court’s requirement to file a verified return within 10 days from receipt of the resolution.
“The DPWH remains committed to upholding the rule of law and respecting the processes set forth by the Supreme Court,” he said.
He also assured the public that the department would address the petition in accordance with applicable legal and environmental standards.
“We stand by our mandate to pursue infrastructure projects that promote development while safeguarding the welfare of the environment and affected communities,” Ortiz added.
The SIDC bridge, a 3.9-kilometer, four-lane cable-stayed structure, will link Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) over the Pakiputan Strait. It will feature a vertical navigational clearance of 47 meters, with landing points at the R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction in Davao City and the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao.
Once operational, the bridge is expected to serve up to 25,000 vehicles daily, cutting travel time between Davao City and Samal from 30 minutes via ferry to just five minutes. (PNA)