DavSam Bridge Nears 60% Completion, Aims for 2028
The Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project, widely known as the DavSam Bridge, has reached nearly 60 percent completion, according to project engineer John Christian Gaden. Speaking on June 9, 2026, Gaden stated that the team is targeting the first quarter of 2028 for the structure's completion, aligning with earlier statements by Secretary Vince Dizon.
This milestone comes amid previous delays. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had originally set an August 30, 2027 deadline but later moved it to September 2028, with a possible extension to September 2030 due to potential funding constraints. The agency noted that the project requires approximately ₱4.69 billion for 2026 and warned that work could be suspended by May 30, 2026, if funds fall short.
Economic Viability and Benefits
Despite financial challenges, the project remains economically sound. According to a report from the Philippine Information Agency-Davao Region (PIA-Davao), using a 9-percent discount rate, the bridge boasts a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 2.57 and an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of 15.67 percent. Even under a stress scenario with a 20 percent increase in capital costs, it maintains a BCR of 1.85 and an EIRR of 14.29 percent.
The SIDC is a toll-free, four-lane extradosed bridge spanning 4.76 kilometers. It will connect R. Castillo–Daang Maharlika in Davao City to the Samal Circumferential Road. Key features include a 275-meter main span, a 47-meter vertical clearance for marine traffic, a 1.62-kilometer marine section supported by 73-meter-high pylons, as well as roundabouts, ramps, and approach roads.
Once finished, the bridge will slash travel time between Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal from 30 to 50 minutes to just five minutes, significantly boosting trade and tourism in the region.
Legal Challenges and Environmental Compliance
The project has faced legal obstacles. The Supreme Court issued a Writ of Kalikasan on July 1, directing the DPWH, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board, and China Road and Bridge Corp. to respond within 10 days. The agencies complied by submitting verified returns, asserting the validity of the project's 2020 Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). They argued that the project was well-studied and that they have fully complied with the Environmental Impact Statement System guidelines to minimize damage to the Pakiputan Strait.
The Court also referred the request for a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) to the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro. On June 10, 2025, the Court of Appeals denied the request to halt construction, allowing work to continue.
As of January 29, 2025, the project had achieved an overall physical completion rate of nearly 12 percent, marking steady progress toward its revised timeline.
