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SIDC

Delaying vital SIDC bridge could affect consumers in Samal

by Contributor April 27, 2026

written by Contributor

CONSUMERS in the Davao Region are urging the government to secure funding for the Samal Island–Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project, as any delay could have long-term consequences for both local leaders and the communities they serve.

Recent reports from the Regional Development Council XI (RDC-XI), through its Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC), indicate that the bridge, one of the region’s most vital infrastructure projects, is facing delays due to funding constraints. Without immediate intervention, a work suspension could take effect by May 30, 2026, potentially pushing the project’s completion to as late as September 2030. The P23-billion project is largely financed through a loan from the Chinese government, which underscores the importance of ensuring that funding flows remain uninterrupted.

At the same time, RDC XI chair Governor Edwin Jubahib has sought to ease concerns, sharing that in a recent meeting with Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, assurances were given that the project will proceed as planned and be completed by 2028.

However, with the project already at 55.97 percent completion as of March 25, any delay at this stage would not only be inefficient but could also stall the economic momentum of the Davao Region. Interruptions in funding and construction risk undermine the very gains the project is meant to deliver.

For consumers, the implications are immediate and tangible. A delay would prolong the current dependence on vessel transport across the Pakiputan Strait, where the movement of goods remains vulnerable to fluctuating shipping costs and weather conditions. Any increase in transport costs is inevitably passed on to consumers, driving up the prices of basic goods and services. Limited vessel availability also constrains supply, further affecting affordability and accessibility.

The bridge also plays a critical role in strengthening energy security. It will enable the installation of additional power lines, providing a vital safeguard in the event of disruptions to existing submarine cables. This added resilience is essential to ensuring stable and reliable electricity for households and businesses alike.

In light of these realities, consumers call on the government to act decisively: secure the necessary funding, prevent disruptions, and prioritize the timely completion of the SIDC Connector Project. Improved connectivity will ensure a more efficient flow of goods and services, and with it, more affordable prices for consumers.

For decades, the bridge has been a shared aspiration not only for the people of Samal Island but for the entire Davao Region. It represents expanded opportunities and a stronger economic integration. Delaying it now would only hold back the region’s progress.

Ryan Amper
Convenor
Davao Consumer Movement
0905-5634083

April 27, 2026 0 comments

News

Samal submarine cable launched

by Gio Tanudtanud April 19, 2026

written by Gio Tanudtanud

DAVAO LIGHT and Power Company (DLPC) inaugurated its 1.25-kilometer submarine cable project on April 17 at Bridgeport, connecting the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCOS) to the Davao City mainland grid with reliable and stable electricity services.

The 69-kilovolt submarine cable has a rated capacity of 50 megawatts laying at the bottom of the sea across the Pakiputan Strait, and will support IGaCOS’s growing economy and electricity demand to strengthen the tourism sector in the island.

Samal has an estimated peak of 12 megawatts and had to rely on generator sets, which will pose a major problem amidst the oil price hikes triggered by the US-Israel war with Iran.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by key representatives of Aboitiz Power Corporation, DLPC, City Government of IGaCOS, Provincial Government of Davao del Norte, and Damosa Land.

DLPC took over power distribution operations in Samal last Feb 25, 2026, and is in accordance with Republic Act No. 12144, allowing the company to extend its services in the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro.

The company had secured the writ of possession issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 4 in Panabo City, where the assets of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Nordeco) on the island were lawfully turned over to them.

In an interview, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said that hotels, resorts, and businesses will be able to operate and thrive in Samal with the help of Davao Light’s electricity services.

He believed Samal’s population would continue to grow once the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge is completed, drawing more visitors to stop by at the resorts and hotels.

April 19, 2026 0 comments

Business

Councilor: SIDC delay is an economic opportunity loss for both Davao, Samal

by Nova Mae Francas July 9, 2025

written by Nova Mae Francas

DELAYING the Samal Island-Davao Connector (SIDC) Bridge would be a negative blow to the two cities in terms of development and economic opportunity loss, Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said.

In a sideline interview during Tuesday’s regular session, July 8, Dayanghirang clarified that he is suggesting a “humanized win-win solution” that the parties can compromise on for the continuation of the controversial bridge.

“You can just imagine the economic opportunity loss on the part of the traders, on the part of the businessman, and on the part of the individual. I suggest for a win-win solution, that we again look at it, tan awn natog balik basin ma-areglo,” he stressed.

Dayanghirang, during the regular session, passed an item under first reading specifically wanting the City Council to express support for the continuation of the SIDC and “affirming compliance with environmental laws and sustainability commitments in light of the Supreme Court’s issuance of a Writ of Kalikasan.

Councilor Tek Ocampo, committee chair on environment, stressed the matter was already discussed in the 20th city council, but Dayanghirang maintained that the 21st city council has a new set of members that the matters of the 20th do not cross the 21st.

Dayanghirang eventually withdrew his resolution and suggested just inviting the petitioners of the Writ and the respondent, Department of Public Works and Highways, provided it would be the first item taken next regular session on July 15.

But, Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus said the matter is already being trashed out in the Judiciary and “might be prudent” to respect the judicial processes.

“Given the fact that this matter is now still being heard, I don’t know if it is proper, appropriate for us to discuss relevant and material matters that would perhaps affect the processes of the judiciary,” Mahipus said.

The SC En Banc, during its session on July 1, issued a writ of kalikasan against the respondents: Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board, and the China Road and Bridge Corporation.

The SC also required the respondents to file a verified return on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days after service of the writ, and referred the ruling on the temporary environmental protection order to the Court of Appeals-Cagayan de Oro for action.

Dayanghirang said the invitation is just to know the status and the merits and demerits of the project for the purpose of public interest.

“We are taking the position of public interest, or else this council will be useless if we cannot express the sentiments of the people, and the way I look at it, the sentiments of the people are for the project to proceed,” he added.

Atty. Romeo Cabarde, a Sustainable Davao Movement member, said in a text message, while they welcome dialogue, they intend to remain vigilant of the move.

“We welcome dialogue, but we remain vigilant—this invitation must not be used to discredit the petition or distract from the environmental violations we have raised before the Supreme Court,” Cabarde said.

Photo courtesy of DPWH XI

July 9, 2025 0 comments

News

Grave accusation: Former mayor says opposition to Samal Bridge handiwork of ‘oligarchs’

by Rhoda Grace Saron July 8, 2025

written by Rhoda Grace Saron

THE CONTROVERSIAL Samal Island-Davao City Connector project, subject of the Supreme Court-issued writ of kalikasan, is being deliberately obstructed by a “few elitist” individuals funded by oligarchs, the tourist island’s former mayor asserted.

Davao del Norte provincial board member Al David Uy made the direct accusation during an interview with reporters on Tuesday afternoon, July 8, on the sidelines of the Davao Light Digital substation and warehouse/stockyard facilities inauguration in Tagum City.

“We all know who is funding that group. We all know these people,” Uy stated emphatically. “It’s purely a business interest, that’s all I can say.”

To illustrate his point, Uy recounted personal experiences with what he described as a disregard for public sentiment in the name of development.

He recalled his time as an Ateneo community member 35 years ago, where, as high school graduates, they were asked to plant acacia trees behind the Ateneo High School in Matina Campus.

“Before, it was an open space; now there are many buildings. They made us plant trees there, acacia trees, then fast forward, they told us, ‘We will cut down the trees you planted because we will build a building.’ There was no social media at that time. We pleaded, we made petitions, and a signature campaign to not cut down the trees we planted, but they cut them down anyway. It was our memorial tree. But they cut it down in the name of progress, to build buildings,” Uy narrated.

He further cited the demolition of an old wooden building within Ateneo despite pleas for its preservation.

“So, I think what these people are doing is very elitist at the expense of millions of individuals who truly want progress, everyone, not just the poor, because this bridge will really help,” Uy asserted. “Unfortunately, a few elitists being funded by oligarchs are making our lives in Samal and Davao miserable, so hopefully, they will have a conscience.”

As of reporting, there has been no immediate response from the individuals or groups implicated by Uy’s accusations.

The Supreme Court En Banc, during its session on July 1, 2025, issued the writ of kalikasan in response to a petition filed by Carmela Marie Santos, Mark Peñalver, and the Sustainable Davao Movement. The petitioners argue that the bridge project will cause “actual, serious, and irreversible damage” to critical marine ecosystems, specifically coral reefs in Paradise Reef, Samal Island, and the Hizon Marine Protected Area in Davao City.

A writ of kalikasan is a legal remedy under Philippine law that protects one’s right to a healthy environment, as outlined in Section 16, Article II of the Philippine Constitution, which states that the “state shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

July 8, 2025 0 comments

Opinion

ROUGH CUTS | One’s right ends when another’s begins?

by Vic Sumalinog July 3, 2025

written by Vic Sumalinog

Now this twist in the case of the missing “sabungeros” in Metro Manila.

One of the primary suspects in the alleged abduction of some 34 “sabungeros” has turned whistle blower and boldly disclosed the other day that influential millionaire businessman-gambler and close friend to some Presidents of the Philippines Charlie “Atong” Ang and four others including a former famous actress, a vice mayor and a police official are allegedly behind the disappearance of the cockfight aficionados.

The whistle blower claims that he is forced to come out in the open because the alleged masterminds have already threatened the lives of the members of his family when they learned that he has cooperated with the police.

Yesterday however, Ang filed several cases against the whistle blower including extortion. Now it can be told why many witnesses would rather keep their mouth shut and eyes closed despite having witnessed personally the commission of crimes, especially when the perpetrator of perpetrators are rich, famous, and influential.

More often, in controversial cases, witnesses could end up accused of crimes they haven’t committed. And usually, they end up convicted because of the way justice is carried out in the country.

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Indeed it is unfortunate that at times, in a country where certain freedoms of people are expressly guaranteed by the Constitution, development projects implementation is oftentimes hindered by the exercise of one or two of such freedoms.

The latest example of these development project is the multi-billion pesos Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) connector bridge. After decades of being talked about and planned the bridge construction was finally given the go-signal for implementation. Of course it took three changes in terms of location for its alignment and subsequent major upward adjustment in its cost.

As can be seen by island hoppers and those who monitored the status of the project implementation, the more than 3 kilometers span is slowly emerging in the water separating the island city and the Davao metropolis in the mainland.

But again the construction is likely to be delayed once more if the sectors that claim they are adversely affected by the alignment will be favored by the Supreme Court (SC) in their petition for a Writ of Kalikasan. Of course the Petitioners who felt aggrieved by the project have every right to seek redress of their grievances. That is one of the many rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

There is however, a saying that “a person’s right ends where the right of another begins.” Yes, the landowners, the entrepreneurs, the environment advocates have the rights to secure the continuity and stability of their businesses; the environmentalists have their right and freedom to ensure that their causes are upheld.

But on the same vein, the local government of the island city and multitude of its people also have the right to aspire for real development; one that could transform their status to the next higher or even to the highest level. They also have the right, the freedom to aspire for such. Should the local government and the people of the island city be denied of their aspiration? The issues can certainly be addressed if all the stakeholders concerned agree to come together, lay down the controverted issues on the table and measures presented and discussed until these are accepted by all.

It is our take that if the sectors who claim they are adversely affected by the bridge project will remain too literal in their interpretation of the freedoms and rightsguaranteed by the Constitution then the city and people of Samal in particular, and the country in general will never attain their desired development all because many are fixated on the assurance that when they feel disadvantaged by any project all they need to do is invoke the Constitution, go to the courts and refer to their guaranteed rights.

In the case of the SIDC bridge construction, with such move the jeopardizing process of the project starts. And if the petitions are granted by the SC then the local governments of Samal and Davao City and the people therein will again start another long wait for the project to either continue or totally stopped.

That would mean a lot of resources and time wasted. Another dream will be lost in the nebula in the name of Constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms and rights to seek redress of grievances.

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July 3, 2025 0 comments