By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Negros Occidental is urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct another feasibility study in order to determine where would be the best site in the province to construct the proposed Negros-Guimaras bridge.

The SP has written and presented its position paper during an open forum hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources last Wednesday.

Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said they do not oppose placing the entry point of the bridge in the town of Pulupandan, however, he was suggesting to the DPWH to look into the possibility of placing the bridge elsewhere in the province.

Previously, Ferrer proposed placing the bridge in the town of Valladolid, pointing out that the infrastructure for building the bridge in the area is already in place such as the seawall in the town.

Valladolid’s roads are also large at four-lanes across. There are also no private properties where the bridge will be placed and there are no households which will be affected by relocation.

There are also separate proposals to bypass Guimaras instead and construct a bridge connecting directly to Panay island instead via the Negros Occidental 3rd district, particularly in the town of E.B. Magalona or Victorias City.

The proposed 19.37-kilometer long bridge will connect the province of Negros Occidental to Guimaras and is part of the 32-kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said the proposed Negros-Guimaras bridge project is still alive, although it was temporarily shelved as funds for its construction was redirected to country’s COVID-19 response./DGB, WDJ