Provincial council recommends alternative entry points to Pulupandan
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

According to Chinese state-owned consultancy firm CCCC Highway Consultants Co., Ltd., the company hired to survey the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project, feasibility studies remain ongoing.
Based on a project profile, the first segment of the bridge will connect Leganes, Iloilo to Buenavista, Guimaras; while second segment is expected to link San Lorenzo, Guimaras to Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.
As part of construction preparations, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already begun developing road sections in Guimaras.
Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Provincial Development Council (PDC) last week recommended surveyors also consider other possible routes aside from Pulupandan, including Bago City, Victorias City, EB Magalona, or Valladolid.
Last March, based on information from a letter signed by CCCC-Philippines General Manager Lyu Gaohu, the feasibility study on the project is part of technical assistance provided by the People’s Republic of China.
He said the implementation agreement of the project was signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Rodrigo Duterte during the latter’s state visit last November.
The CCCC official pointed out at the time, the feasibility study was going smoothly and the DPWH, various stakeholders, and local government units from the three islands were cooperating.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to span a total of 19 kilometers with an estimated cost of around $2 billion./DGB, WDJ