DOT-XI awaiting for feasibility study Samal-Davao bridge

DAVAO CITY, Jan 30 (PIA) Newly appointed director Robert Alabado III of the Department of Tourism XI believes that a bridge linking Davao City to Samal Island will improve the accessibility of tourist destinations in the area.

He said a bridge will ensure the influx of tourists to the sites in Samal.

Alabado said that a bridge will ensure a 24-hour access to both areas.

“We expect that with the bridge that will be constructed between the two areas, we will have more tourist attractions being developed in Samal Island,” he said.

Alabado said the National Economic and Development Authority in Davao Region has conducted a feasibility study on putting up a bridge through a public-private-partnership.

PPP is a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies.

He said the feasibility study is crucial in looking at the mode of constructing the bridge.

“We hope that the feasibility study will show that something can be earned out of the PPP, where the private sector will willingly construct the bridge for the government,” Alabado said.

He also cited need for the feasibility study on the bridge to expand not only to income but to its environmental impact.

Alabado stressed that Samal Island is a precious jewel of the Davao Gulf where the beaches and its natural features like the corrals will be properly preserved despite the expected industries and people who would visit once there is a bridge.

Lisette Marquez, tourism officer of Davao City cited the need for the local government unit of the Island Garden City of Samal to also have a plan on how to handle the implication of having a bridge between the mainland and Samal Island.

She cautioned that having a bridge will also expedite environmental degradation.

“We want that before the bridge is built the roads are also fine,” Marquez said.

She said that with the accessibility of Samal, tourists will only spend their time there by day, instead of converting them to nighttime visitors which is experienced today when people are served by two ferry services.

Marquez stressed that the carrying capacity of the island must be studied by the environmental planners.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)