An article in PIA (Philippine Information Agency) talks about the planned Samal-Davao bridge, and quotes Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario as being concerned about the infrastructure of the island. In particular, he questions whether the bridge should be developed before the needs of water and power are addressed.
“If I do have the money for a project in Samal, I will pour it for power and water supply projects because the place needs them most,” he said.
The number of projects on Samal Island seems to increase on an almost daily basis, and most of these are privately funded. Who has the responsibility to insure adequate utilities to service all of these developments? It would seem to be in the best interests of the private developers to work with the local government to make sure that this happens, but I don’t know how that works. As far as I know the island is serviced by Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO). Do they have ability to work with private firms?
I’m sure this will all be addressed as plans move forward. For now though, it appears they may be putting the cart ahead of the horse.
 talks about the planned Samal-Davao bridge, and quotes Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario as being c){kind=link}
Jan 10, 2009 @ 23:34:04
Talking about bridge link between samal island and davao city, I agree with Gov. Del Rosario, actually Samal Island – the people of Samal Island, needs sufficient water supply in their respective homes as well the the Power supply, DANECO who is now servicing Samal Island, has no capabilities to address the needs and to provide adequate electricity to remote areas of the Island considering that DANECO been servicing the island for almost 2 decades, however their services is inefficient in nature, there are remote areas in the Island that needs electricity and has a potential for development, the reason why that the potential investors hesitant to invest due to lack of electricity supply. Most of the investor here in the Island spend much of their investment to Electricity, since DANECO cannot able to connect and provide electricity since they do not have enough to finance the electric post that goes to the certain projects, DANECO will ask the investor to provide or buy electric post so that they could provide the electricity, nakakaloka diba? Daneco should think of Longterm plan investment and not for short term investment – gusto kasi nila pera agad, what the hec are they?…..anyway let go back to Bridge Issue… being born raise in the Island of Samal, I would not agree for the Bridge, if they will put bridge that link to mainland Davao, Samal Island will NOT LONGER BE AN ISLAND” better yet stop the urge of putting bridge the island, Samal Island should have no bridge, because the ESSENCE OF BEING AN ISLAND WILL PERISH” Sana hwag na matuloy and tulay between davao and samal island. THE BEAUTY OF THE ISLAND WILL BECOME OVER POPULATED AND THE POLLUTION na dala ng mga tao galing ng mainland davao……..SANA PAG-ISIPAN NILA NG MAIGI KUNG MAG PALAGAY SILA NG TULAY. PEOPLE IN SAMAL ISLAND SANAY NA WALANG TULAY BAKIT NGAYON PA DB?
SALAMAT
Jan 11, 2009 @ 08:55:49
Hi randi i – thanks for stopping by and for your comments. The consensus of those that have commented on my site regarding the bridge is that they are against it. Most believe that it will never happen and I’m beginning to believe that, too. At the very least it seems that it is a long way off.
The development on the island has positives and negatives. As you pointed out some of the infrastructure is being improved, as the developers are being forced to bring in electricity, water treatment and waste management. Evidently this hasn’t made it’s way out to the rural areas yet, but there is a better chance it will than before the developments.
I, too, hope the island doesn’t get overpopulated or overdeveloped. I want to live there and that is not appealing to me. I’ve posted many articles showing the IGaCoS is eager to keep the island’s beauty and keep it environmentally sound but other articles that point to a path for industrial growth. Time will tell what happens there.
Mar 16, 2009 @ 22:48:06
I PRAY AND WISH THAT GOD GRANT US A BRIDGE THAT WILL ABLE TO HAVE BRIDGE THAT WILL LINK BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES.IT WILL HELP A LOT NOT ONLY THE ECONOMY OF THIS TWO CITIES BUT ESPECIALLY TO THE POOR PEOPLE THAT COULD NO LONGER AFFORD THE HIGH FARES OF TRANSPORTATION IT IS BECAUSE THEY DONT HAVE MUCH COMPETITOR.THE POOR PEOPLE I SEE AND EXPERIENCE THEY JUST SEEM TAKING A DEPTH BREATH WHEN THEY TRAVEL BECAUSE OF A HIGH FARES AND COULD DO NOTHING AT ALL.IM REALLY HOPING SOMEDAY GOD WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE A BRIDGE NO MATTER.GOD IS GOOD,GOD BLESS US ALL.
Mar 16, 2009 @ 22:54:24
WE ARE ALL SUPPORTIVE HERE IN SAMAL I ALREADY SURVEYED HERE AND 110% ARE SUPPORTIVE TO HAVE A BRIDGE LINKED TO TWO CITIES IT WILL DEVELOP OUR LIFESTYLE AND THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.OUR PATIENT IF THEIR WOULD BE AN EMERGENCY WE COULD CARRY AS FAST AS WE COULD BE THEIR COULD A BRIDGE.HOPE OUR GOVERNMENT DO SOMETIHNG FOR IT.
Mar 17, 2009 @ 05:35:47
Hi JIMY – thanks for dropping in and your comments. You have very strong feelings for the bridge, and I must say so far you are the only one that’s commented for it. Of course people look at it from different perspectives, and I can understand the hope that it may bring positive changes to the island. I’m not sure that it will, but that remains to be seen.
Mar 16, 2009 @ 23:12:09
GOD KNOWS PEOPLE HERE IN SAMAL NEEDS A BRIDGE ONE THING FOR SURE IT IS NOW EASY FOR THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE POOR.IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.WE CAN CARRY FAST AS WE COULD IN THE BIG HOSPITAL IN DAVAO.LETS JUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THE HOSPITAL HERE IN SAMAL ARE NO CAPACITY OF OPERATIONS OF EMERGENCY CASES.SECONDLY THE GOODS HERE ARE MUCH HIGHER COMPARE AND DAVAO IT IS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH FARES OF THE VESSEL BRINGING THE GOODS FROM DAVAO TO SAMAL.AND THERE IS MORE 1 MILLIONS REASONS THAT I COULDN’T TELL BECAUSE OF LIMITED TIME OF ME AND SPACE.I JUST LEAVE IT TO THE READERS WHAT ARE THOSE REASONS I KNOW IT THAT YOU ALL KNOW IT.THANKS AND GOD BLESS US ALL.
Sep 22, 2011 @ 23:07:22
go davao dapat simulan na yan ksi sa susunod cable car from matina shrine to pinaplata uswag nata davao
Sep 23, 2011 @ 12:41:26
Hi Abner – not sure what you are saying here. Are you suggesting they put a cable car from Matina to Penaplata? Wouldn’t that still require a bridge?
Anyway, I don’t see any talk or activity of a bridge going to Samal. Just my opinion, but I don’t see a need for it currently. Many things to take care of on Samal first. Worry about a bridge later.
Sep 27, 2011 @ 00:55:29
hi randy, how are you? i’ve been following your items here in your website more than three years now. and i really appreciated your great efforts especially Samal is not your place of origin.
just like you, i also have common interest as far as progress in Samal is concern. i am from the mainland Davao but currently living here in Queensland Australia.
keep up the good work mate!
Sam
Sep 27, 2011 @ 10:10:14
Hi Sam – thank you for the kind words and for being such a loyal long time reader. You’ve must have been following almost from the start. Thanks!
I hope once I’m living in the area I can give even better updates. We”ll see.
Oct 07, 2012 @ 16:15:27
a bridge on that can link davao and samal??sound good to hear…but in reality it seems too good to be true..why???because samal is not part of davao city…its a part of davao del norte..imagine if theres a bridge, samal’s economy will rise! and guess who will be benefitting on all its taxes,incomes etc..its DAVAO DEL NORTE! and not Davao City…i’d rather like the idea of a Tagum-Samal bridge..lol
Oct 07, 2012 @ 17:19:49
While that is true, it also seems that Davao would benefit from the easy access to the resorts (tourism), and the buying of goods and services from those visiting and living on Samal. Commerce would be much easier and efficient.
The biggest beneficiary, if you choose to look at it that way, would be Samal Island. There would be much easier access from all areas through the bridge, regardless of where it was located.
Seems to be a moot point, as the bridge does not appear to be a project at this time, or any time soon.
Jan 21, 2013 @ 17:25:00
Hi Randy I chance upon your article and Iam glad that you like Samal Island even though you’re not a filipino. I for one is not from Mindanao but from Luzon and I learn to love this place specially Samal Island, my wifes family owned some 7 hectars of overlooking property in Limao fronting the other side of the gulf Davao, City. I have learned to love this peaceful and very quiet overlooking place because of its magnificent view of the whole of Davao, City and on the backdrop is the majestic Mt. Apo. We are just beside the playa azalea resort hotel on the overlooking side coz this hotel is 33 hectars from the sea side to the top. If you drop by samal island through the ferry upon reaching the other side, if you asked any motorbike driver to bring you to overlooking they will only bring you to this place. This is the highest place in Samal that has an overlooking view and with an interupted view of Davao, City . Right now we have already five foreigners with a piece of land there owning not lower than 2000sq.mtrs each . Mr. Duncan owns a 2500sq mtrs with a very big house he built three years ago, and Mr. Worsely a british with a 2700 sq mtrs. and built a very big duplex for him and his son. The rest is owned by a doctor deam from florida, a swedish national and a canadian. Actually the place is raw that is why we are selling it at a price a lot cheaper than the resort hotel beside us. If by chance you come to Dvao, City or you are in Davao, you could contact me and i’ll show you this beautiful, peaceful and serene place, actually it is beggining to be a retirement haven for the foreigners who bought a piece of land there. Thank you very much randy and i hope we could meet sometime, I’am actually a farmer administrator of a 48 hectars rice land owned by my wifes family in Sto Tomas Davao, del Norte . Again Thanks and God Bless.
Jan 21, 2013 @ 17:35:25
Hi Ramiro,
I am familiar with your area, as it must be very close to where my land was (that I owned with my previous wife). Our was also in Limao ovelooking Davao, very near the White House.
I also know James Duncan and have met Mr. Worsley. They have magnificent homes, very beautiful for sure, with great views of the Davao.
I do have people contacting me from time to time about land there, so I would be glad to check out yours sometime.
You can drop me a line via the contact form.
Jan 27, 2013 @ 00:08:56
It is nice to know that you knew the place randy, so you live here for sometime in Limao. The white house is owned by the moncadistas a religious group who has been there for quite sometime now. Regarding the bridge I believe most foreigners don’t want the bridge coz it will bring the thieves to Samal as they say, right now thievery is very low in Samal since it is hard to go to the other side if you’re in a haste and carrying you’re loot. I for one is not for the bridge to be built in Samal Island. Anyway thanks randy and hoping to hear from you soon if you have friend who would like to see the place. Maraming Salamat ulit randy.
Jan 27, 2013 @ 17:18:08
Thanks, Ramrey.
I removed your mobile number and email, as it’s not a good idea to include that in the comments here. If someone wants to contact you, I’ll be glad to forward their information. If you’d like to send me a personal email with your number again, please use the contact form, and that way I’ll have you mobile on file.
In regards to the bridge, there are lots of different reasons people want it, or don’t. At this point it really doesn’t matter, as it will not happen any time soon, if at all.
Dec 24, 2013 @ 01:28:19
Hello Randy, I am glad that you enjoy Samal as much as we the citizens here enjoy it as well, I would just like to give my two cents in terms of what Ramrey is proposing, BE VERY VERY CAREFUL!!!
Dec 24, 2013 @ 07:27:57
Thanks, Mang.
I don’t get many people asking to see the White House, so it isn’t really a concern.