Philippine govt panel approves Samal-Davao bridge, hospital investment discussed

The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee has approved the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project, a four-lane toll-free bridge. Separately, the Department of Finance said a joint venture between Bon Secours Mercy Health and AC Health plans a flagship hospital in Pasig City.

The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC) has approved the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project, moving the proposed bridge toward final approval, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.

The project will provide a four-lane, toll-free bridge to improve access to jobs, schools, markets and essential services between Davao City and Samal Island, the DoF said in a social media post on Tuesday. It will be submitted to the Economy and Development Council for final approval.

Separately, the DoF said Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go met with Cincinnati-based healthcare operator Bon Secours Mercy Health and Ayala Corp.’s healthcare arm, AC Health, to discuss plans to jointly develop a flagship hospital campus in Pasig City. The proposed investment is expected to generate around 3,000 jobs and expand access to specialised medical services while supporting healthcare education and research.

“This is an opportunity to bring advanced and world-class medical services closer to Filipino patients, develop the next generation of healthcare professionals, and create thousands of quality jobs,” Mr. Go said. “We are excited to see this project move forward and ensure that its benefits reach more Filipinos,” he added.

The hospital campus is envisioned to introduce new clinical services, advance research and development, and address gaps in specialised medical care in the Philippines. The project is expected to expand access to quality healthcare at home, retain healthcare spending in the country, and position the Philippines as a destination for international medical tourism, the DoF said.