07/07/2022
PH-CHINA LAUNCHES SAMAL ISLAND-DAVAO CITY CONNECTOR PROJECT
It is all systems go for the design and build of Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
A launching ceremony of the bridge project to be funded by Official Development Assistance (ODA) from People's Republic of China (PRC) was held Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Main Office in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
The scale model of the 3.98 kilometers Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project was formally unveiled by visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi; Ambassador Huang Xilian of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines; DFA Secretary Enrique A. Manalo; and DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan and Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain.
The event was also highlighted by the unveiling of commemorative plaque for Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project.
Secretary Bonoan said that the construction of toll-free, four-lane Samal Island-Davao City Connector is good news to commuters and motorists in Davao Region as it will connect in five (5) minutes the beautiful Island Garden City of Samal and the highly urbanized Davao City.
This means faster travel time, less traffic gridlock and improved productivity affecting around 25,000 vehicles traversing these areas on a daily basis, added Secretary Bonoan.
The Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project seeks to enhance internal mobility and external linkages to support the economic and tourist growth potential of the local region.
The project is the first loan agreement of the Government of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China for an infrastructure project under implementation of DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations.
A flagship project under the Build Build Build program, the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project is a key Government-to-Government cooperation project between the Philippines and China. Implementation will be started this year 2022 and targetted for completion by 2027.
Underscretary Sadain, in-charge of DPWH UPMO Operations, said that the bilateral relations between the Philippines and China have significantly grown especially with the completion of the two (2) China-grant bridges namely Estrella-Pantaleon and Binondo-Intramuros Bridges which has become a landmark tourist attraction because of their aesthetic and iconic design.
With an indicative cost of ₱23.039-billion, Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project is envisioned as a modern bridge that will connect the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, Island Garden City of Samal to Davao City in between R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction.
Crossing over Pakiputan Strait, Samal Island-Davao City Connector has a width of 24 meters and a vertical navigational clearance up to 47 meters and will also be supported by two (2) pylons with a height of 73 meters.
