DPWH eyes bidding for Davao-Samal bridge project in October or November

The proposed bridge that will connect Davao City to the so-called “island garden city” of Samal will be up for bidding for interested contractors by the fourth quarter of the year, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said Tuesday.

“For Davao-Samal bridge, ang target namin by October or November magkakaroon na po ng bidding,” Villar said during a virtual Palace briefing.

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways will bid out the design and build contract for the project.

“After bidding gagawa ng final design,” Villar said.

The loan agreement for the Davao-Samal bridge project will be inked by December following the bidding, according to the Public Works chief.

“By next year, we’ll implement the project,” the Cabinet official said.

“Naka-set na ang alignment ng Davao-Samal bridge,” he said.

The project’s alignment begins at Azuela Cove to the nearest point in Samal island. The bridge will be 2.63 kilometers long with four lanes.

The Davao-Samal bridge, with an estimated project cost of P23.04 billion, will be funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) from China at 80% and national government budget at 20%.

The project is among the big-ticket infrastructure programs under the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Buid” initiative.—AOL, GMA News