Where’s that confounded bridge?
Do you think it’s possible Robert Plant was referring to the Samal-Davao bridge, when he uttered those words at the end of The Crunge back in 1973?
Three months to review the already completed study, add in Filipino time (double it) and we’re at about six months since they announced the go ahead. A rash of announced resorts and subdivisions followed (most probably already planned). And here we sit. Well there certainly has been an economic downturn since then, maybe that’s the cause.
Most likely, and this is only speculation on my part, is that the bridge is a long way from seeing anything getting started. Some would say never, or not in our lifetime.
I check the news sites and search google occasionally but I’m not finding anything new at all. Maybe one of the locals there has some insights, but again nothing that I’ve heard about.
Photo credit: Michael Putland via patrishka.wordpress.com
Hi Randy – doesn’t look like this is going to happen. I haven’t checked the Igacos official website – would think they will be quiet about it now too. Those people probably disappeared long time ago already. Have you even heard/read of them coming to do the actual feasibility study? I don’t recall myself. Oh well, on to something else….
Hi Ellen – whether the study or studies were done or were still to be done, seems to be unclear from the various articles I had read previously. In at least one case it appeared the studies just needed to be reviewed to determine the best action to take. Others made it sound like the studies hadn’t been started. So, no, there is no affirmation that they were ever done, at least not recently.
I’m certainly fine with no bridge and I’m not really surprised I haven’t heard anything else about it.
Hi Randy – Hate to say “I told you so”….
Hi Bob – yes you did. I didn’t think you’d be too bummed about it either
I guess this comment runs the risk of branding me as a hopeless old curmudgeon, but my vote is the proposed bridge is a bad, bad thing. The longer it is delayed … preferably for decades … the better.
I don’t currently own land on Samal but I have certainly been tempted. And one thing which makes me glad I haven’t yet made an investment is that bridge. A bridge between Davao City and the “Island Garden City of Samal” would reduce what is now one of the loveliest places in the Philippines to something akin to Mactan Island without the advantage of an airport. Samal could easily become the Bayonne of Davao.
Frankly I think one of the charms and advantages of Samal is that you have to ‘want’ to go there and you have to pay (a modest tool) to get there. Think that has perhaps any reason for how much cleaner Samal is than the adjacent shores of Davao?
You know ther other day I had a poor young fellow who got himself roped into taking a job selling _personal steam baths_ at my door. Little tents you put in your bathroom to make you sweat (even more than usual). I told him I already had all the steam bath i needed
. Wonder if he would have paid the ferry fare to come to your door on Samal?
I’d say the bridge idea is a mixed blessing indeed.
Hi Dave, hahaha. But aren’t you pro- seedcorn plantation? Just kidding.
I have to laugh at that steambath gizmo. That is absolutely very funny. I certainly don’t need him here selling me that!
hi randy – hate to be that curmudgeon part II, but i'm not a big fan of the bridge either.
i grew up in a house by the beach facing samal & i'd hate to see too much modernization in that island.
i always thought a modern ferry system (a la hong kong, bay area etc) would suffice & satisfy the growing transplants in samal as well as preserving the island.
i did expect the locals to be excited about the plan because we (pinoys) have the penchant to translate large building spectacles (giant malls, cement, cement, cement) as a step towards development. i've already heard of a few pristine river spots in the island paved with concrete steps for "improvement".
but for samal's sake, i hope that bridge plan gets sunk.
Hi Dave/Ellen/Macky- seems to be a consensus among everyone here, myself included, that they would rather not see a bridge from Davao to Samal. My reasons are selfish, but I can see why some locals might envision it as a potentially positive move forward.
I guess my article must have made it seem I was disappointed that there was no progress. Not at all. Just felt a follow up was due on the subject.
It will be interesting to see, if the bridge never gets built, whether other options are explored such as Macky mentions. With the development that is planned with the resorts there will need to be some mode of transportation to get everyone back and forth. There are some resorts that run their own shuttle, so maybe that will become the norm in those cases.
BTW the poor salesman may want to consider a location change. The “steam bath tent” sounds good to me right about now. Of course it’s 43 degrees here, too.
Hi!
As a citizen of the Samal Island, I AM STRONGLY AGAINTS THE BRIDGE” THE ESSENCE OF BEING AN ISLAND WILL DISAPPEAR” Samal Island will not be called Island anymore, if you notice the Mactan Island in Cebu, have you heard guys that Mactan Island be called “MACTAN ISLAND” diba very seldom na lang? same thing happen to Samal Island?
Salamat
Hi randy i – yes, that is the feeling here as well. I know I’ve seen those that are for it, but not really anyone that has visited here.
GOD KNOWS PEOPLE HERE IN SAMAL NEED THAT BRIDGE ONE THING FOR SURE.ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST OF IT.ONE FOR SURE THEY ARE ALL “SELFISH” CAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THE REAL SITUATION OF THE POOR.THE PATIENT WHO DIES WHICH NOT BE BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY IN DAVAO FOR EMERGENCY CASES.THE HIGH PRICES OF GOODS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH FARES WHEN THE GOODS ARE TRAVELED FROM DAVAO TO SAMAL THE MEDICINES.AND ETC.COMPARED TO DAVAO.HOPE THOSE WHERE AGAINST OF IT ARE THE WHO HELP OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST DEFENDING FOR THE GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING FROM THEIR SITUATION THERE.NOW THE THE GOVERNMENT ARE DOING SOME MOVES BUT WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO AGAINST BY IT ARE DOING THEY ARE OPPOSING OF WHAT POOR PEOPLE MUNTING PANGARAP PARA SA KANILANG BUHAY AY IPAGKAIT NYO PA SA KANILA WHAT KIND OF HUMAN ARE YOU PEOPLE.
RANDY CGURO MAY BUSINESS KAYO NA MASAGASAAN KAYA K GANYAN PRE,LAHAT TAYO WE WHERE JUST TEMPORARY HERE IN THE WORLD WHY COULD NOT WE DO SOMETHING THAT BRING A LEGACY OUT OF IT. WHILE WE STILL HERE IN THE WORLD LETS THINK OF BIG NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR THE MANKIND ITSELF AS A WHOLE.FOR THE GOOD OF NAKAKARAMI.THAT BRIDGE IS GOOD FOR NOT JUST FOR YOUR SELF NOT JUST FOR MYSELF BUT GOOD FOR ALL.THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT BRIDGE IS GOOD FOR ALL.GET IT.
Hi JIMY – thanks again for stating your feelings on the bridge. As I’ve said, most people I know have not been for it. I prefer to see Samal remain less urban and not industrialized. Possibly that is a selfish view.
There certainly would be some positive aspect to having it. I’m not sure how that would affect our retirement plans if it did go through though.
Hi Jim,
Thank you for your concern, but still I am not into bridge that connect to Mainland Davao and Mindanao as a whole, I with Mr. Randy C.
Jim, I don’t have business as well here in Samal that i need to protect, I also a samaleneous, I love the Island, I need to protect the Island from pollution, I want to preserved that natural resources the nature as well. As you can see Samal Island has a unique personality. I understand your concerns between life and death, why don’t you ask yourself what did the government do, with regards to healthcare program for the people of Samal Island? This things should be address to our government officials and that bridge is not the answer to your concerns.
My point of view why I opposed the bridge is that the island will become crowded and what happened to the garbage that the people from Davao that brought in to Samal Island? Where we dump their garbage? What will happen to our beloved Island in the next five years after the bridge is built? Samal Island will be become the dumpsite of Davao garbage? Don’t you realize that? I hope you will realized that before its to late. Don’t think only for today rather than think the future of our next generation. Jim, I hope you have a clear view on this matter and join the crusade.
Thank you
I am satisfied of what samal island now. What we can do is to push our local government officials to provide better roads especially from the remote areas.