IGACOS Mayor Al David Uy certain on Samal-Davao bridge const…
Island Garden City of Samal Mayor Al David Uy bared he is certain, based from the information he gathered from his top-level lobbying, that the construction of the Samal-Davao bridge would start before President Duterte steps down in 2022.
“Next year the P90-million budget will come intended for the complete feasibility and structural design for the bridge, that’s why I have high hope that before the President steps down the construction of the bridge would have then been started,” the mayor said Thursday in an interview at his office in the old City Hall in Penaplata.
In June last year DPWH-XI said that the P16.47-billion Samal-Davao bridge would begin construction in mid-2019 and end in 2024.
Mayor Uy also bared five other high-funded priority projects that would come in to the island including the sub-island of Talikud this year and next year, besides the P150-million New City Hall that is already being constructed at sitio Mag in Penaplata and the continuing construction of the P1.8-billion circumferential road DPWH project around the main island.
“By next year DPWH would also start the construction of the circumferential road around Talikud Island with an initial funding of P250 million,” Uy said.
To complement it to boost the high tourism potential of Talikud, the mayor would also put up through loan a P15-million infirmary, a primary hospital and another P15-million for material recovery facility in the sub-island.
Also part of the P190-million loan would be the funding for the waste water treatment facility and sewerage projects and the expansion of the sanitary landfill in the island.
Mayor Uy said that addressing the waste problem of the island is crucial part of the preparation before the coming in of the bridge, while the basic infrastructures have to be laid down now that “unfortunately had not been put in place for 20 years now since we became a city.”
Besides, the mayor is also awaiting for the implementation of the P70-million bulk water project of DPWH to address the perennial problem of water in the island.
He also said that he is also lobbying that the dilapidated submarine cable of DANECO would be replaced with new one capable to carry higher power supply.
He added: “If hindi kaya ng Daneco, we better give it to someone else” in apparent reference to other power supplier.
Besides, the mayor recently purchased a land at the back of the New City Hall being constructed, which would be used for a new terminal.
The old city hall once transfer of government center would be effected next year would also be used for the City College, which is now for final reading and approval by the IGACOS City Council. (msc/Cha Monforte)
