By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

The detailed engineering design for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge project is targeted to begin by the first quarter of next year.

Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Emil Sadain said the Department of Finance had issued the evidence of authority on October 24, for the engineering services of the PGN bridges for the loan agreement to be in effect. 

To date, the procurement of consulting services for the design and tender assistance is ongoing, and the submission and receipt of the bidding documents is scheduled for next month.  

Sadain, together with Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and other officials, conducted an on-ground assessment of the proposed location of the project.

The Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council in Western Visayas approved the project’s Guimaras-Negros linkage for endorsement during the Third Quarter Reorganizational Meeting on September 14.

The project was fully endorsed and approved by the committee on October 13.

The Guimaras-Negros linkage will comprise a sea-crossing bridge with an approximate length of 13.11 kilometers, road approaches with an approximate length of 5.49 kilometers and road connectors with a total length of 19.47 kilometers.

On the other hand, the Panay-Guimaras linkage will comprise a sea-crossing bridge with an approximate length of 4.97 kilometers and a road approach with an approximate total length of 8.03 kilometers with a total length of 13 kilometers.

Sadain said they still have a long way to go, but the wait will be worth it as they have the opportunity to make the PGN bridge a dream come true./DGB, WDJ