[ Manila Bulletin Online ] November 30, 2008
DAVAO CITY – The local government of the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) has expressed optimism that the proposed bridge linking the island to this city will soon be realized.
City Administrator Cleto Gales said the process of conducting a feasibility study on the P5 billion Samal-Davao bridge project, which the city government wants to be an iconic landmark, is now ongoing.
Gales said the United Kingdom-based MCC Capital Projects Ltd. intends to finance the construction of the $ 120 million one-kilometer bridge that will connect Caliclic district in Samal to Lanang district here.
The bridge will boost the tourism industry of Samal, especially with the ongoing upscale of residential and resort projects in the island, Gales added.
"The bridge will complement the current real estate developments in the city," he said.
It was gathered that the Samal-Davao Bridge is part of the Davao Integrated Development Program drafted by Japanese consultants during the late 1990s.
Investors from China and Europe have also shown interest to fund the construction of the bridge, Gales said.
He, however, said that they are still studying the process or the mode of building the bridge, whether through the build-operate-transfer scheme or contracting.
Gales said the city government will only consider what is most beneficial and what is most affordable.
In a survey, Gales said at least 60 percent of the total respondents favored the construction of the bridge since this would identify the island city as the center of amity in Davao region.
Crossing from the island city to this city through a bridge was first envisioned by the administration of former Samal City Mayor Rogelio Antalan.
Among the priority thrusts of the present city chief executive, Samal Mayor Aniano Antalan, include the creation of the Samal Island Special Economic Zone and Freeport, and the rehabilitation of the power submarine cable. (Ben D. Arche)
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