The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has reported rapid progress on the construction of the Samal Island–Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge, with the project now achieving a 38% accomplishment rate — well ahead of its original schedule.
Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in-charge of DPWH infrastructure flagship projects, reported to Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan that the SIDC project has surpassed its target accomplishment rate of 16%, reflecting a positive slippage of 22%.
Funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the SIDC Bridge is being implemented by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Bridges Management Cluster (UPMO-BMC), with China Road and Bridge Corporation serving as the contractor.
This toll-free, four-lane extradosed bridge will span 4.76 kilometers, linking Davao City at the R. Castillo–Daang Maharlika Junction to the Samal Circumferential Road.
As part of the “Bagong Pilipinas” initiative under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to improve national connectivity, the SIDC Bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Davao City and Samal Island, enhance regional mobility, promote tourism, and stimulate economic activity across the Davao Region.
On June 27, 2025, Senior Undersecretary Sadain conducted an on-site inspection together with UPMO-BMC Project Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes, UPMO Roads Management Cluster I (Bilateral) Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista, Project Manager Joweto V. Tulaylay, and Project Engineer John Christian T. Gaden.
The bridge will feature a 275-meter main span and a 47-meter vertical clearance to accommodate marine vessels. Its marine crossing section will stretch 1.62 kilometers across the water, supported by two pylons, each standing 73 meters above sea level. The complete bridge design also includes roundabouts, ramps, and approach roads.
The project continues to meet key engineering and construction milestones, with substantial progress in several areas such as bored piling on the Davao side of the land viaduct with 73 out of 110 bored piles completed, representing 66.36% completion, while all bored piles on the Samal side were completed.
Also completed are the bored piling for the navigation bridge on the Davao side and Samal. The seal concrete installation for the navigation portion is ongoing on the Davao side while the Samal side has already been completed.
In terms of marine viaduct construction, the Davao side has completed 12 of 32 bored piles, or 37.5%, and the Samal side has completed 11 of 44, or 25%. The ramp construction on the Davao side has also seen steady progress, with 60 out of 133 piles completed, equivalent to 45.11%.
For the pile cap installations, 11 out of 26 pile caps have been completed on the Davao side of the land viaduct, while 5 out of 16 pile caps have been finished on the Samal side.
In preparation for road widening along Daang Maharlika, fencing installation and removal of existing structures and obstructions have been completed. Meanwhile, the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) has finalized the installation of primary and secondary distribution lines and is currently awaiting energization.
Right-of-way (ROW) acquisition is also progressing steadily. A total of 61 out of 69 or 88% of affected lots in Davao City and Samal Island have already been acquired. For affected structures in Davao City, 22 out of 51 or 43% have been secured, while the rest are currently undergoing acquisition procedures.
With construction well ahead of schedule, the SIDC Bridge is on track to become a vital infrastructure link that will strengthen inter-island connectivity and catalyze long-term development in Mindanao.