By CESAR JOLITO III
Negros Island Region (NIR) has reiterated its full backing for the long-anticipated Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Link Bridge Project, despite a revised construction timeline that pushes the start of civil works to late 2027.
The NIR Regional Development Council confirmed its unified support for the PGN Bridge Project during the 1st Quarter 2026 Full Council Meeting held in Siquijor on March 24.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the region remains aligned with the project, describing the council as functioning like “one big happy family,” with all sectoral committees actively participating and submitting reports during the meeting.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) earlier announced that construction of the Panay-Guimaras segment will begin in the fourth quarter of 2027 — about a year later than initially scheduled.
According to DPWH-Western Visayas Director Denise Maria Ayag, the delay is due to unresolved right-of-way issues and necessary adjustments in the project alignment.
She added that discussions between regional officials, the DPWH Unified Project Management Office, and project consultants highlighted the need to refine technical plans before implementation.
Despite the setback, the project’s detailed engineering design has already been completed by a consortium led by Yooshin Engineering Corporation, in partnership with several South Korean engineering firms.
Originally targeted to begin before the end of 2026, the project timeline was intended to ensure completion before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s term in 2028.
However, officials said the construction will proceed in phases as planned, starting with the Panay-Guimaras segment, followed by the Guimaras-Negros connection.
The Panay-Guimaras segment will span 13 kilometers, including a 4.97-kilometer sea crossing, while the Guimaras-Negros segment will stretch 19.47 kilometers with a 13.11-kilometer sea crossing.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the islands — from up to four hours by sea to less than one hour — while boosting regional trade, tourism and economic integration across Western Visayas.
The PGN Link Bridge, considered one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects outside Luzon, will link the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros through two major sections.
For 2026, the national government has allocated P443.5 million in counterpart funding for the project. Of this amount, P193.34 million is designated for overall project requirements, P171.23 million for the Panay-Guimaras section, and P78.94 million for the Guimaras-Negros segment.
Despite the timeline adjustment, officials emphasized that the PGN Link Bridge remains a flagship infrastructure priority under the government’s national development strategy./CJ, WDJ