Cadiao: Ferry companies may be affected, but the project will proceed

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao yesterday confirmed several firms from China and South Korea are visiting the Western Visayas to conduct further studies on the proposed Negros-Guimaras-Panay bridges.

The governor, who was in Bacolod City for the 2nd Quarter Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting, said construction would begin with the Panay-Guimaras segment, since it’s shortest; and would be followed by the Guimaras-Negros Occidental segment.

Cadiao said the Chinese and Korean firms are “deeply interested” in getting involved with the construction project.

She noted, they understand major ferry companies linking Iloilo and Negros Occidental would be greatly affected by the bridges, however, they cannot stop the project as it is being pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte under his “Build, Build, Build” program.

Cadiao also said the project would be up for bidding before contractors design the bridges.

The Negros-Guimaras-Panay bridge, which was earlier approved by the RDC, is expected to span a total of 19-kilometers and estimated to cost around $2 billion./DGB, WDJ