Philippines: 2 new seawater-spanning bridges in Mindanao, what you need to know
Key projects on southern island seen further boosting trade, tourism, peace
Manila: Following the opening of the $143-million Panguil Bay Bridge in Mindanao, two major seawater-spanning links are also now under construction linking smaller islands to the southern mainland.
The $18.6-million Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay province, due by end-2024, and the $412.78-million Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge, due in 2027, are expected to enhance connectivity and boost long-term economic prospects in the the south, a public works official has revealed.
Mainland Mindanao (land area: 97,530 km², bigger than Denmark and the Netherlands combined) is the name of the main island of the Philippines's southern-most island group of the same name, and is composed of about 400 islands.
The mineral-rich island group is home to about 26 million people. ad1a4df9-355d-42fb-87f0-3f6fe5ddf850
The Philippines is ramping up infrastructure spending, following decades of underinvestment.
Emil K. Sadain, Senior Undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said the Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay will link Olutanga Island (194.1 km²) and its three municipalities (Mabuhay, Talusan, and Olutanga) with mainland Mindanao, which are separated by the Canalizo Strait.
As of July 2024, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that construction was 43 per cent complete.
Growth corridors
This bridge is just one of several projects under the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP), which has a total outlay of 25.257 billion pesos (approximately $443 million).
The project is funded through a 19.080-billion-peso loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with the Philippine government contributing 6.12 billion pesos.
In addition to the Guicam Bridge, the Mindanao Road Sector Project includes the concrete paving of 151 km of roads and the construction of 31 bridges with a total length of 2.1 km across the Zamboanga Peninsula. Three bridges located in Tawi-Tawi, spanning a combined length of 1.8 km, also form part of the project.
The Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road, a 29.7-km road has already been completed by the DPWH’s Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Roads Management Cluster II.
In the past, travel in Zamboanga Sibugay was challenging due to incomplete projects and poor road conditions, especially during the rainy season. With the paving of the Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road, local communities are now experiencing significant improvements in agribusiness, ecotourism, and logistics.
Game-changer
According to Sadain, the newly-paved road is a game changer for the development of Alicia and Olutanga Island, fostering the growth of local industries, sustaining peace and security, and unlocking the economic potential of the island.
Olutanga Island boasts rich tourism and agro-fishery potential, with a coastline that is home to stunning beaches, snorkeling and diving sites, and a thriving seaweed industry. The island’s aquaculture, particularly “lapu-lapu” (grouper | Hamour) fish cage farming and dried fish production, stands to benefit greatly from the improved infrastructure.
Samal-Davao bridge
Meanwhile, the $412.78-million Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge is making steady progress despite initial setbacks.
The SIDC Project features a four-lane (two lanes each direction) extradosed bridge with a total length of 4.01 km, a 530-metre main span, with viaducts measuring 570 metres on the Davao City side and 395 metres on the Samal Island (301.3 km²) side. It will have a vertical navigation clearance of 47 metres across the Pakiputan Strait.
The construction has been awarded to China Road and Bridge Corp., a subsidiary of the state-owned China Communications Construction Co., with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) overseeing the project.
As of July 2024, the project is advancing with significant progress in both design and construction. Sadain reported to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan that bored piling works for the land viaduct, initiated in May 2024, are progressing as planned.
On the Samal side, 42 out of 72 bored piles have been completed, while on the Davao City side, 23 out of 72 have been finished.
The Detailed Engineering Design (DED) phase, crucial for ensuring the bridge’s structural integrity, is now 94.41 per cent complete.
This includes finalising design plans for the land viaduct, marine viaduct, and the main navigation bridge.
Despite challenges and legal issues surrounding the project, DPWH has taken proactive measures to address concerns promptly, aiming to keep the project on schedule and avoid delays.
Inspection
During a recent site inspection, key project officials were present to assess the ongoing works.
With an estimated total cost of 23.52 billion pesos (around $413 million), the SIDC project is being financed through Official Development Assistance (ODA), under a concessional loan from the Government of China.
The bridge, which spans 4.01 km, will feature a 275-metre main span and a 47-metre vertical navigation clearance over the Pakiputan Strait.
The marine crossing, which is approximately 1.62 km in length, is supported by pylons towering 73 metres above sea level.
Upon completion, the SIDC bridge will provide a convenient transportation link between Samal Island and Davao City, which will spurring economic growth and development in the region, boosting tourism and improving the daily lives of residents and businesses in the region.