The completion of the detailed engineering design (DED) of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridges Project draws near with the reported accomplishment rate for Section A of the Panay to Guimaras Island at 90.42 percent.

Meanwhile, Section B of the Guimaras to Negros Island Bridge is already at 66.66 percent as of January 2025.

The interim DED of Section A of PGN was already submitted to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) late last year, while the DED for the Section B or the Guimaras to Negros segment will continue until its target completion period at the end of December 2025.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 6 said that the construction or the civil works of the project’s first segment — Panay-Guimaras will commence in the second semester of 2025 and is set to be completed in June 2028.

Once the project is completed, it is expected to reduce the travel time of commuters and motorists and ease the transport of goods from Panay to Negros Island through ferries or roll-on/roll-off (roro) from three to four hours to just less than one hour.

The PGN Island Bridges Project is the realization of the Philippine National Development Strategy linking the three islands for a safer, faster and more convenient transportation so passengers and vehicles can pass all-weather.

It is also among the 12 bridges nationwide that will be constructed under the Mega-Bridge Program component to connect the islands and areas of the country separated by waters.

This is covered under the present administration’s “Build Better More” Program of the Marcos administration, aiming to address some inadequacies of the country’s infrastructure that affect national development. (PIA-6)