By CESAR JOLITO III

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the P189-billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project is moving closer to construction as its detailed engineering design (DED) nears completion.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the design for the first segment, a 4.97-kilometer sea-crossing bridge connecting Panay and Guimaras, is now 99 percent finished and is expected to be completed within September.

“Mako-complete na po ito within the month of September. So after po nun, ipapadala na po ito sa National Economic and Development Authority for approval,” Dizon told the House Committee on Appropriations.

The second segment, which will link Guimaras and Negros through a 13.11-kilometer sea-crossing bridge, has already reached 85.3 percent progress in its design.

The contract for the DED was signed in 2023 and is scheduled for completion by 2025. Civil works are targeted to follow until 2032.

Dizon also clarified that the PGN project remains unaffected by South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung’s earlier pronouncement halting a separate 700-billion-won (around P28 billion) infrastructure loan to the Philippines over corruption concerns.

The engineering services are financed through a loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), South Korea’s official export credit agency.

“This particular funding through KEXIM for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges is not affected,” Dizon stressed.

The PGN Bridges Project, considered one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings, is envisioned to create seamless land travel across the three islands, boosting mobility, trade and tourism in Western Visayas and Negros Island Region./CJ, WDJ