NEDA approves the feasibility study of the IGACOS-mainland bridge

DAVAO CITY, Mar 12 (PIA) Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, chair of the Regional Development Council 11 revealed that the National Economic and Development Authority has approved to conduct a feasibility study with a cost of P90-Million to do a study to construct a bridge between the mainland and Island Garden City  of Samal.

He said there have been calls for the construction of the bridge but no feasibility study has been conducted to that effect.

Del Rosario said many years passed and nothing concrete had happened.

“With the approval of this feasibility study, we hope that everything will move fast for the plan to be realized,” he said.

Del Rosario said that the RDC XI needs to know that the bridge project is viable, feasible, economical and timely.

He said that the answers to these questions are positive.

“I think it is viable and feasible at this time considering the traffic that you see along Sasa to wait for the ferry where a lot of time is wasted,” Del Rosario said.

Even then, the governor thanked for the presence of the ferry which provides access to the island for land transportation.

However, he stressed that the current situation demands that a bridge must be constructed not only to speed up the movement of people but also in hastening the development of IGACOS.

“I like this bridge to be a tourism bridge, just like what the Golden Gate Bridge does to San Francisco, California,” Del Rosario said.

He also mulled to sit with the consultant on the bridge construction, taking into consideration other links aside from Sasa, Davao City like Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

Del Rosario said that in the past, the government was able to construct a bridge connecting Samar and Leyte.

He said that it is not far that a bridge can be constructed between Panabo City and IGACOS, both belonging to Davao del Norte.

“We rather seek the bridge for ourselves and not Davao City to avoid conflict,” Del Rosario said.

He said that the ferry operation will still go on between IGACOS and Davao City with the alternative like the bridge between IGACOS and Panabo City.

Compostela Valley Vice Governor Manuel Zamora, committee on infrastructure chair of the RDC 11 said the IGACOS-mainland bridge might cost P17-Billion to be constructed in five years.

He said that with the approval of its feasibility study worth P90-Million, the plan will be realized eventually.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)