CA denies petition to stop bridge project

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has denied the petition of an environmentalist seeking to stop the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) ongoing construction of the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) bridge project.

In denying the petition for the issuance of a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO), the CA Special Twenty-First Division in Cagayan de Oro City said that stopping the project at this stage “would cause undue disruption to a government infrastructure project already in progress and may potentially harm the greater public interest.” “Unfortunately, in this case, the petitioners failed to demonstrate that the case pertains to matters of extreme urgency and that grave injustice and/or irreparable injury will arise if no TEPO is issued at this stage of the proceedings,” the six-page ruling read.

The ruling, penned by Associate Justice Anisah Amanodin-Umpa, was unanimous. The two other members of the Special Division were Justices Evalyn Arellano-Morales and Jill Rose Jaugan-Lo.

The petition was filed by Sustainable Davao Movement, Carmela Marie Santos, Mark Mark Peñalver and Marvelous Dainty Camilo.

Petitioners claimed that the SIDC connector project will cause actual, serious and irreversible damage to coral reefs at Paradise Reef in Samal Island and the Hizon Marine Protected Area in Davao City.

As of June 2025, the DPWH said the P23.5-billion China-funded bridge project is only 38-percent complete following a two-year delay due to right-of-way problems.

In an inspection report to Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain on Tuesday highlighted the steady progress of the bridge project, adding that construction is proceeding smoothly at a faster pace in accordance with the safety protocols.

Environmental precautions, he added, are also given priority to mitigate any adverse impacts on the surrounding areas, with careful handling of equipment and materials.

The P23.52-billion project is funded through an Official Development Assistance loan from China and is part of a broader national effort to enhance connectivity, alleviate traffic congestion and boost regional economic development.

It is one of the 12 mega-bridge projects listed in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Build, Better More infrastructure program.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to significantly improve mobility between Davao City and Samal Island, driving growth in tourism and economic activity across the region, said Sadain.