For about two months now, there’s been a lot of talk about a bridge being built to Samal Island. Actually, the talk is been going on for years, but it’s gotten serious in the last couple of months.
Why has it gotten serious? Well, because there’s been a lot of speculation that it’s about to begin.
You see, about two months ago there was a big press release from the government of Igacos (that’s the island garden city of Samal). They announced that a British company had agreed to finance a bridge that would connect Samal island to the mainland of Davao city. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be invested, and it would all be given by the British company in question. The money wouldn’t even need to be repaid! The company would simply operate the bridge, charge a toll, and recoup its investment that way.
It was even said that the bridge was going to be built to be very similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Now, that’s going to be an expensive project. Is Davao really ready for such a bridge? It was said that such a bridge would be needed because of the ship traffic in the Gulf. There was never a mention of a drawbridge or anything of the sort, just something like the Golden Gate.
There were also rumors that a Saudi Shaikh was going to finance the entire thing. I only heard that one from a couple of people though, it didn’t have nearly the credence of the British company. But, it was out there.
Let’s go back to the part about the British company again. The big announcement stated that the company was going to immediately start a feasibility study, which would take three months. At the end of the feasibility study the bridge would be constructed. Hold it. How can that be? When you do a feasibility study, that means you’re trying to decide whether or not it’s feasible to build the bridge, right? However, in the announcement, it seemed that the feasibility study was just a formality. The bridge was going to be built. To me, that doesn’t make sense. If you’ve already decided to build the bridge why waste money on a feasibility study? If you’re going to do a feasibility study that will determine whether the bridge would be built, right?
The next question is, is a bridge really wanted or needed? There’s a good ferry service to the island and many passenger boats going there too. Most landowners on Samal don’t seem to want it. I know Feyma, and I are against it too. We prefer to keep the island a little bit more separated from the city. If you make it too easy to get there it’s going to start getting crowded and you also have a lot of the wrong kind of people going there. When I say the wrong kind of people, what I mean is, you can have people going there for drinking and partying, that kind of thing. I prefer to keep it quiet and more pristine. Of course it’s not my choice. It’s up to the entire public.
I’ve talked to some businessmen locally who would have a good handle on what’s going on. I asked if there would be a bridge anytime soon, most of them just laughed. They said it won’t happen in our lifetime. I kind of hope they’re right.
What do you think?
Hello Bob,
Instead of thinking of a fancy bridge which would take many years to make profit and put ferries out of business, would not be better to build a good medical centre to service the island.
As there are going to be a fair amount of foriegners living there and tourist resorts it would be an ideal thing to have. It would certainly save lives and reduce time in having to travel to get treatment. The other benefits to create employment for the locals, if you think long term, the island could start a small hospital with a training facility for nurses. Which there is a world wide shortage of, I sure that this would be a better alternative to a massive bridge.
How do you pay for this medical centre, one naturally you need the federal government, local government,private enterprise, mainly by a small annual tax on the resorts local expats and donations.
With a decent medical centre the local expats would feel a bit more secure knowing that if the have any medical problems they will be well looked after, do not forget that if you have heart attack you only have minutes to medical attention.
Have a good day
Steven
Part 2. Also lets not forget looking after the locals, make sure that they get the same treatment as an expat, I know that anything to with being sick up there, is produce the money first before you get the treatment. I know that this maybe a bit idealistic but in the long run I am sure that poor will appriciate it. In sure Bob with all of your contacts it could the medical centre could become a reality. Just make sure that the right people handle the task and not the MR and MRS Lightfingers who see a fast buck in and destroy the idea.
There are many ways to make these sort of ideas work, just think outside the box.
Steven
hello bob
i totally agree with you and feyma that there should never be a bridge to samal.it would dissinegrate the integrity of samal.its remote and takes a few minutes by ferry and thats great.before you know it if the bridge is built there would be alot of crime and trouble in samal.i vote noooo.
salamat bob
Hi Ron W. — Yep, that's how I feel too. I agree that crime would come to Samal in the case of a bridge, so at least we have two no votes. 😆
Morning Bob,
Mate, it's total pie-in-the-sky stuff. Considering the cost, the soverign risk and the cheap ferry services it will never happen. I have always found it interesting how such stories start, especially in far-away places – and I'm not just talking about far-away in the sense of the Philippines. Even in Australia and 'm sure the US, outrageous projects seem to be "in the pipeline" for out-of-the-way places, but trust me, as an accountant, I know these things are never viable and don't get past the money hard-men. Nice to dream though, eh Bob? PS What are the approx google earth co-ordinates for your land on Samal because as you know the satellite resolution is very good for that part of the planet.
Bob
According to the numbers a bridge like that would take 5 years from studies to completion in the US so if you take this times 4 for Filipino time you have 20 years. Now you take this 20 years time 2 or 3 for government time now you are up to 40 to 60 years. So yes, according to the numbers chances are we will not see this bridge in our lifetime.
😉
Hi Bob,
Well, there has been talk, as you say, of this bridge for some time, and of course there would be drawbacks and benefits. I feel that the crime would inevitably increase as the island would more or less become part of the mainland with easier access both in and out. Of course, a video surveilance system could be set up to monitor traffic passing the tollbooth and this may act as a deterrent. On the plus side, if you have a heart attack or some other sudden illness at 3am and need to get to the mainland hospital pronto, the bridge would be of benefit for sure. We looked at land on Samal very close to yours, but the deal went pear shaped in the very last stages as our attorney found the precise location of the land was not the same as the land that we actually viewed. My only concern at that time, bearing in mind that I will probably be approaching 60 by the time we had built there, was inadequate medical ER facility on the island itself. Other than that, Vangie and I fell in love with the island, and we will probably again be looking for land there on our next visit.
As regards the reality of the bridge, I think the only way that this bridge will be built is if the toll fee's could represent the same business interests as those controlling the existing port and ferries to the same or greater extent. I believe that it could be equally profitable, but the amortisation of the build costs would take years, and with the short term viewpoint taken by many philippine businesses, I think you need not worry for the forseeable future.
Jim
Hi AussieLee – I have been thinking along the same lines as you! Pie in the sky! I just pulled out Google Earth and did some checking, and I have the exact coordinates of our land, for anybody who wants to have a look. It is 7° 05' 20" North and 125° 40' 45" East. Give it a look on Google Maps or Google Earth. 😆
Hi Larry – Ha ha… 😆 You have a good outlook there!
Hi Jim Hannah – You have some good points there. On the medical front, Samal does have a water ambulance, a speed boat that can bring you to the mainland for medical treatment. Honestly, though, I do not know if it operates 24/7 or not.
Thanks for commenting!
Hi Bob –
"The investors also bared that before they start the construction, the team will still polish the feasibility study first especially on its commercial aspect as the project wishes to also include the construction of a hotel and a convention center in Samal Island. (PIA)"
The issue of the feasibility study seems to be reported differently in every article. I had read previous to this announcement that feasibility studies had been performed. It seems likely that they have. Whether they want to update, review or have new studies, seems to be the question.
As we've discussed, and I've mentioned on my blog, I have concerns about the bridge. There are some positives, in addition to those mentioned, the probable land value increases. But all in all, if I get to vote, I have to go with – no bridge!
Hi Randy C – Yep, I'm with you. I would vote "no" if I had a say in the matter, of course, neither of us get to say, though! 😆
Like you, I see positives and also negatives. I am willing to accept the decision whatever it is, but my preference is to keep things as they are now.
Hi Bob. I'm sure if the British set their mind to it they will build that bridge in no time at all.
Don't worry Bob. If Alec Guiness insists of finishing that bridge then I will call our American friend William Holden to blow up that bridge.
(Specia Appearance Geoffrey Horne) 😉 .
Hi Steven – Thanks for your comments. I think that the bridge to Samal and a Medical Center are two somewhat different topics. The primary reason for the bridge is not really for medical needs, but rather just to connect the island to the mainland. For commerce, and also for pleasure, so that people in Davao can easily access the resorts and such. I am sure that the resort owners would love to see a bridge, so that it will create easy access to their establishments.
Of course, the benefits, medical-wise are evident too. I am not sure what medical facilities are on the island, but I am sure there must be some. Since I am not yet ready to live there, it is not something that I have really looked into yet.
Good ideas on the medical center, Steven. 😀
Hi Dr. Long – It sounds almost like we are going back to 1776 again. The battle field, this time, though, will be in the Gulf of Davao! 😆
From the IGaCoS website:
"There are also two hospitals in the city namely the Emergency Hospital in Samal District and Babal Community Hospital in Babak District, while in Kaputian District only Lying-In is available. The Emergency Hospital has 25 bed, Babak Community Hospital has 10 beds and the Lying-In in Kaputian has 5 beds. Private Medical Clinics are also available particularly in Babak and Samal District. Despite the presence of hospitals in the area, some people prefer to go to Davao City considering the complete facilities available."
http://samalcity.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_cont…
Hi Randy C – Thanks for sharing that! 😆
Hello Bob
"NO" — keep Samal the same as it is now…
As you said, it will be very accessible, "partying & drinking" will definitely feasible!
Hi Maryg – Yep, that is for certain!
you know where i stand in this one.
no, no, no to the bridge.
i don't get why a modernized ferry system wasn't even considered (based on news reports). a lot of sophisticated cities have this including the sf bay area & hong kong.
the bridge is another crazy idea that skips common sense. this is the bigger is better logic.
samal island has a chance to be one of a kind. imagine davao's central park or golden gate park to be an island in the davao gulf. that would be amazing. i fear a bridge would just shape the island's future in the most mistaken way.
local projects are already notorious with mismanagement, funding & deadline issues. how can we trust this ambitious undertaking to a record of incompetence?
i'll say it again, modernize the ferry system.
Hi Macky – I only disagree with you on one point. I really feel that the current ferry system is working very well, and is adequate for now. Maybe in five or ten years the ferry system could use an upgrade. 😀
hi bob,
I don't want to ruin your paradise, but i think as part of progress there is always a price to pay, i know how expat people like you wants to keep samal the way it is now, but of course, in order to bring progress things must change. with the ever increasing population of the philippines, new location is needed, commerce is the most important factor if the bridge is to be built. i don't know if you will agree with me on this but one thing that comes to my mind is, it is time for the philippine to move forward particularly in the south, there are many places in the philippines that is already left behind when it comes to progress. *IF only* the governement can bring the entire country to progress without changing places like samal, then i would vote NO as well, however, we must look at the reality, and the reality is, there are many filipinos living in samal that wants progress. as an example, i live in mandaluyong city, during my younger age, i like the way it is in mandaluyong, it is one of the peaceful place in manila, no high rise building, no traffic, few residents, you can actually hear bird singing in the morning, and because mandaluyong need to progress in order to sustain the city needs, new malls and commercial buildings popping-up like mushroom, now i am hating to see mandaluyong nowadays, heavy traffic, too much people, narrowing roads, polution etc..etc.. but when i see there are more people having a jobs, the convenience of the malls etc..etc.. i realized that there are more people benefits from it.
although i hate mandaluyong the way it is now, i have to accept the fact that my paradise is gone.
Hi dans – I don't necessarily disagree with you, in fact, I said earlier that I am prepared to accept whatever happens. Also, I don't think it is just expats who are opposed to the bridge. Lots of locals in Davao are quite vocal that they don't want the bridge.
hi bob – you're right. a state of the art system won't make money right now…
i should have added that since they are considering the future development of the gulf, i am perplexed why a modern ferry system isn't on the table. that just makes more sense to me. it works in many important cities.
a bridge just sounds like lazy thinking to me. bridge means progress! there are other ways to do this.
for the record, i am a local pinoy who grew up in a house by the davao waters. my childhood memories included seeing samal island through my window everyday & night.
samal island is a big part of my youth & i'd hate to see a bad idea happen in the name of so-called modernization.
Hi Bob,
Big infrastructure projects seem to always get people talking in the Philippines. There's no denying that progress will happen, but in the case of Samal, I wonder if the demand is there for such a large project? If ferries that take 15 minutes do the trick efficiently and affordably, why spend billions of pesos on that particular infrastructure project? I think there are more pressing infrastructure needs than that. Let's hope the regional development council also agrees and decides to go ahead with other investments that really would make more economic sense at this particular time.
Hi Macky – If I had to guess, I would say that more than 50% of Dabawenyos are against the bridge.
Hi Martin – A lot of Samalenyos are pro-bridge, but a lot of Dabawenyos are anti, I'd say.
Bob sleep well at night buddy, unless pigs fly, I can't see the British paying millions of dollars to get a 10 peso fare each way lol. Then again if the British corporation were given large tracts of beach frontage, then maybe you will have some sleepless nights. Until then enjoy the tranquility of Samal.
Hi Peter Mystakas – Ha ha…. I will have to go outside and look up to see if any pigs are flying by! 😆
Like you, Bob, I wondered a bit as to what Macky wants in the way of a 'modernized' ferry system. I was very favorably impressed with the system that i sin place now. Wait times are quite short, there are plenty of boats in service, fares seem reasonable (menaing they aren't so expensive as to prohibit travel and yet should be enough to let the current operators make aprofit … many people want public transpo made so cheap there is no profit and hence it becomes a burden or else disappears) and I don't see how anything could be easier … drive in, pay tool, drive on, drive off.
Macky, I'm really only here to learn, what would 'modernizing' the exisiting system consist of?
Hi Dave Starr – I think that macky was just offering that as another alternative. Maybe in 10 years or so it will be feasible!
Bob, I just hate to see the beauty of such a island ruined.You will soon have over population,crime ect,ect.Its really difficult to find paradise.I hope for you it stays intact! I too will be searching for such a place! 😆
Hi Steven PDX: Absolutely! Well, hopefully everything will stay as it is now! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed!