Finance Sec. Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez
The Davao City-Island Garden City of Samal bridge is finally in the offing following the signing of the concessional loan made available by China to the Philippines. Finance Sec. Carlos G. Dominguez and Ambassador Huang Xilian of the Peoples Republic of China had exchanged documents on the framework and loan agreement for RMB2.34-billion.
That is about ₱17.39-billion or $362-million. The loan carries an interest of 2% per interest per year, payable in 20 years inclusive of a grace period of seven years. Secretary Dominguez sent to the Mindanao Journal the following brief explaining the terms of the loan.
The Davao-Samal bridge could be the last of the BUILD BUILD BUILD projects of the Duterte administration. It has barely two weeks to go as it will finally exit on June 30, 2022.
Chinese Amb. Huang Xilian
China Road and Bridge Corporation will construct the 4-kilometer four lane bridge starting July this year. Chinese bridge contractors are famous for constructing long bridges over seas, rivers, lakes and swamps. experts. Among the spectacular sea bridge it constructed Is the 36- kilometer Hangzhou Bay Bridge that connects from Ningbo City in Zhejiang province to Shanghai. The span is the longest sea bridge in the world! Seven out of 10 longest bridges in the world are also found in China. It cuts across bodies of waters and swamps.
Hangzhou Bay Bridge is an engineering marvel because of the engineering issues that had to be addressed. The engineers are not worried about the depth of the sea but the tidal current and earthquakes. Travel time from Ningbo to Shanghai, a distance of about 400 kilometers by land, was cut by half.
Given their experience and expertise the Davao-Samal bridge will be a easy for the Chinese engineers to construct.
The bridge will have a tremendous economic impact on the Island Garden City of Samal as it will greatly enhance the transport of copra and fishery products to traders in Davao City. From the Davao International Airport guests can take a cab and proceed directly to the island resorts. Other option is to billet in Davao City’s hotel, then take a cab to the island to enjoy the fine white sands then drive back to the city.
From Davao City guests can visit mountain resorts to experience and enjoy nature at its best. All these destination in just within 30-minute drive. (Jun Ledesma/photo credits: samalcity.gov.ph)