Tuesday, Rodriguez and Lucas family representative Pura Rodriguez told the media that the family is writing a strong letter to Marcos and the new Secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other concerned departments pleading with them to review and reconsider the bridge's incorrect alignment and landing site in Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos).
According to her, the Marcos government has pledged to "provide food security, safeguard the environment, and to encourage sustainable growth and a healthy tourism economy."
Rodriguez stated that the letter to the president has not yet been sent as of this writing.
"[The content of the letter] is to take a second look at the project. That's all we're asking," she said.
The representative stated that they are in favor of the project. She did, however, state that they are opposed to the "wrong" alignment chosen by project designer Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd..
"We remain fully and strongly committed in opposing as it has done from the very beginning in 2019 until now the wrongful alignment chosen after a mere desk review and designed by Ove Arup to DPWH of its landing site in Samal Island," Rodriguez said.
The family claims that Arup's landing site alignment, which runs directly from Paradise Beach and Garden Resort to Costa Marina Beach Resort, will result in "irreversible and irreparable destruction" of the Paradise Reef.
Rodriguez stated that the reef contains coral gardens and marine life that their family has been preserving for over 80 years and is regarded as the premier ecotourism destination in Igacos.
"The Rodriguez Family will exhaust any and all valid and legal measures to realign the SIDC and protect and preserve the Paradise Reef for the lasting benefit of present and future generations in Igacos, in the Davao Region, the island of Mindanao and entire country," she said.
In a previous interview, Chinese Consul-General Li Lin confirmed that the bridge's groundbreaking is scheduled for July 2022. On June 13, the Philippines and China signed the Framework Agreement and Loan Agreement for the Davao-Samal Bridge.
Lin stated that the project will be funded with a $350 million concessional loan.
The DPWH stated in a press release on July 6 that the Connector Project is ready to begin.
The SIDC is a two-way four-lane 3.86-kilometer bridge, with the main bridge measuring 1.62-kilometers in length.
The China-funded project envisions a modern bridge connecting the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, Island Garden City of Samal, to Davao City between R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika intersection
The Samal-Davao bridge is expected to be completed in 2027.
Facebook Conversations