The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) report considerable progress in the ongoing inter-island linkage project between Davao City and Samal Island across the Pakiputan Strait in the Davao Region.
In an inspection report by DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain to Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, it was revealed that various substructure works for the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge continue to gain momentum and are progressing in parallel.
On-going works include the construction of ramps and land viaducts on both the Davao and Samal sides, along with significant developments on the marine viaduct and the main navigation bridge.
The 4.76-kilometer, four-lane bridge has now reached 41% completion. This milestone is highlighted by the successful completion of about seven (7) high pier columns for the land viaducts on both ends, marking a major achievement in the project’s vertical construction phase. In addition, foundation works for the 275-meter extradosed main bridge are well underway.
On the Samal side, the steel caisson cofferdam for the navigation pile cap has been successfully lowered and is now being prepared for concrete sealing. Meanwhile, on the Davao side, the seal concrete bottom slab has already been installed, with preparations ongoing for the caisson’s lowering, pending final quality inspections.
The latest site inspection was conducted on August 22, 2025, led by Senior Undersecretary Sadain along with Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Project Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes of the Bridges Management Cluster; Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista of Roads Management Cluster I; Stakeholders Relations Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario; Project Managers Joweto V. Tulaylay and Najar S. Imbin; Acting Project Manager Norifel Teddie G. Cadiang; Project Engineer John Christian T. Gaden; and other UPMO staff. They were joined by representatives of the contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation and construction supervision consultant Pertconsult International.
Once completed, the SIDC Bridge will provide a direct link between R. Castillo–Daang Maharlika Junction in Davao City and the Circumferential Road in Samal Island, drastically reducing travel time from 55 minutes via ferry to just 4.5 minutes. It is expected to accommodate an estimated 25,000 vehicles daily, boosting tourism and commerce in the region.
The ₱20.8 billion project is largely funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, under a bilateral agreement aimed at supporting the Philippines’ infrastructure development goals.
According to Senior Undersecretary Sadain, who is in charge of infrastructure flagship projects under the Build Better More program funded by ODA, several bridge connectivity projects implemented by the DPWH UPMO Operations have recently been completed under the President Marcos Jr. administration and the leadership of DPWH Secretary Bonoan.
Foremost among these is the 3.17-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge, currently the longest sea-crossing bridge in Northern Mindanao, which was inaugurated on September 27, 2024. This vital infrastructure links Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, significantly improving mobility, trade, and regional development.
Additionally, several more projects under the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) are nearing completion, including the Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay and two other major bridges in Tawi-Tawi Province. These projects are poised to further enhance inter-island connectivity and spur inclusive economic growth in Southern Philippines.
Looking ahead, the DPWH-UPMO Operations is set to begin civil works of several legacy infrastructure flagship projects aimed at strengthening inter-island and regional connectivity. These include: 32.15-kilometer Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge, which will connect Central Luzon and CALABARZON via Manila Bay; and 33.09-kilometer Panay–Guimaras–Negros Island Bridges, a transformative project for Western Visayas; 2.61-kilometer Second San Juanico Bridge, an expansion of the existing Leyte–Samar link; and Cebu–Mactan 4th Bridge and Mandaue Coastal Road, with a total length of over 8 kilometers, designed to improve access between Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu.
0 Comments