The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is targeting to complete the first segment of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) bridges project before the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s term in 2028.
This was disclosed by DPWH Regional Director Sonny Boy O. Oropel, in an interview, during the recent groundbreaking ceremony of the West Visayas State University College of Law building, where the agency is implementing the construction of the project.
“The Panay-Guimaras Bridge is promised to be completed before the term of President Marcos Jr. [ends]. That time, maybe, before June of 2028, the Panay-Guimaras will be operational,” Oropel noted.
The project includes the construction of a total of 32.47-kilometer, two-sea-crossing bridges, including connecting roads and interchanges that will link Panay Island to Guimaras Island for the 13-kilometer first segment and Guimaras Island to Negros Island for the 19.47-kilometer second segment.
This is in line with the realization of the Philippine National Development Strategy of linking the islands of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros for safer, faster, and more convenient transportation among islands, securing passengers and vehicles can pass all weather.
The construction of the two bridges, based on the project brief of the DPWH dated February 2, will reduce travel time in Panay and Negros Island from three to four hours by ferry boat to just less than an hour by car.
Oropel added that the Notice of Award (NOA) was already issued to the highest-ranked firm, a consortium of five contractors, for the consulting services for the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) and Tender Assistance of the project.
The DPWH and the joint venture engineering companies signed the P2.671 billion contract on December 20 last year.
“The [study] for the Panay-Guimaras Segment 1 will be completed by the end of December 2024. Right after December 2024, the turnover and start of the civil works will immediately begin,” he said, clarifying that the construction of the project’s first segment will commence in the second semester of 2025.
Meanwhile, the DED for the Guimaras to Negros segment will continue until its target completion at the end of December 2025.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan noted, in a separate press release, that the “start of DED for the PGN Island Bridges Project is another monumental undertaking of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. under the ‘Build, Better, More’ program that aims to improve the lives of the people and simultaneously achieve economic stability in the areas in the region.”
The DPWH, together with the consultants, already met with the concerned provincial and local government units last month.
These include the areas where the project will be erected, such as the provincial government of Iloilo, the city government of Iloilo, and the municipality of Leganes on the Panay side, the Guimaras provincial government together with the LGUs of Buenavista and San Lorenzo, and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental with the Bacolod City government and LGU Pulupandan on the Negros side.
“All the executives expressed their full support for the project and committed to extend the necessary assistance to expedite the completion of the project,” the project brief stated.
Further, the mobilization of experts and equipment is ongoing, while the topographical and bathymetrical survey teams are expected to be deployed this February.
Meanwhile, Oropel also assured that funds were allotted for the affected areas in the construction of the project.
“The total budget for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges is P187 billion, and P20 billion of that is allocated for the acquisition of the road right of way,” he said. (PIA-6)