DELAYING the Samal Island-Davao Connector (SIDC) Bridge would be a negative blow to the two cities in terms of development and economic opportunity loss, Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said.
In a sideline interview during Tuesday’s regular session, July 8, Dayanghirang clarified that he is suggesting a “humanized win-win solution” that the parties can compromise on for the continuation of the controversial bridge.
“You can just imagine the economic opportunity loss on the part of the traders, on the part of the businessman, and on the part of the individual. I suggest for a win-win solution, that we again look at it, tan awn natog balik basin ma-areglo,” he stressed.
Dayanghirang, during the regular session, passed an item under first reading specifically wanting the City Council to express support for the continuation of the SIDC and “affirming compliance with environmental laws and sustainability commitments in light of the Supreme Court’s issuance of a Writ of Kalikasan.
Councilor Tek Ocampo, committee chair on environment, stressed the matter was already discussed in the 20th city council, but Dayanghirang maintained that the 21st city council has a new set of members that the matters of the 20th do not cross the 21st.
Dayanghirang eventually withdrew his resolution and suggested just inviting the petitioners of the Writ and the respondent, Department of Public Works and Highways, provided it would be the first item taken next regular session on July 15.
But, Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus said the matter is already being trashed out in the Judiciary and “might be prudent” to respect the judicial processes.
“Given the fact that this matter is now still being heard, I don’t know if it is proper, appropriate for us to discuss relevant and material matters that would perhaps affect the processes of the judiciary,” Mahipus said.
The SC En Banc, during its session on July 1, issued a writ of kalikasan against the respondents: Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board, and the China Road and Bridge Corporation.
The SC also required the respondents to file a verified return on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days after service of the writ, and referred the ruling on the temporary environmental protection order to the Court of Appeals-Cagayan de Oro for action.
Dayanghirang said the invitation is just to know the status and the merits and demerits of the project for the purpose of public interest.
“We are taking the position of public interest, or else this council will be useless if we cannot express the sentiments of the people, and the way I look at it, the sentiments of the people are for the project to proceed,” he added.
Atty. Romeo Cabarde, a Sustainable Davao Movement member, said in a text message, while they welcome dialogue, they intend to remain vigilant of the move.
“We welcome dialogue, but we remain vigilant—this invitation must not be used to discredit the petition or distract from the environmental violations we have raised before the Supreme Court,” Cabarde said.
Photo courtesy of DPWH XI
