Samal-Davao bridge restructuring cleared by ICC, now awaits Marcos' approval

A proposal to restructure the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project has passed a key review by national economic managers and now needs only the final approval of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Finance (DOF) said.

According to Edge Davao, the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC), co-chaired by Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go, approved the restructuring of the ongoing 4.76-kilometer bridge project on October 22, 2026. It then endorsed the proposal to the Economic Development Council, which the President chairs.

In an October 28 statement, the DOF said the restructuring is meant to push infrastructure development forward, improve connectivity, widen access to essential services and create economic opportunities in Mindanao. The department did not say what specific changes were being proposed.

A report by the Regional Project Monitoring Committee 11, however, indicated that the changes involve the project's scope, cost, financing and implementation period. These include a higher total project cost and a longer completion period, though the report did not give a revised completion date.

Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, who chairs the Regional Development Council 11, said the bridge would be finished before Marcos' term ends in June 2028. Speaking on Tuesday, Jubahib said construction remains on track and was about 60 percent complete as of October. He added that enough funds are available to keep construction going and meet the target timeline.

The SIDC is a four-lane, toll-free bridge linking Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal, designed to carry around 25,000 vehicles a day. Once completed, it is expected to give residents a direct link between the mainland and the island, improving access to jobs, markets, tourist spots, schools and essential services, and supporting business activity in the Davao Region.