ILOILO City – The Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project is moving albeit slow. Two groups have qualified to submit their bids, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
South Korea-based Yoshin Co. and Sambo Engineering and Construction Co. are expected to submit their bid proposals for the detailed engineering design (DED) until Sept. 23, 2022.
The Notice to Proceed is expected by December this year and the DED will be finished for about 20 months, according to former senator Franklin Drilon, citing information from Public Works undersecretary Emil Sadain.
The DED to be conducted will be funded under a loan to be extended by the Korea Export-Import Bank.
The estimated cost for the conduct of DED will be about P3.3 billion. The loan will be payable for 40 years without interest.
The project involves the construction of 32.47-klometer bridge including two sea-crossing bridges spanning five kilometers for the Panay-Guimaras segment and 13.11 kilometers for Guimaras-Negros section.
“I am glad about this development. I thank the DPWH and the Korean government for their assistance. This bridge is a lifelong aspiration of the people of Panay, Guimaras and Negros,” Drilon said.
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge is expected to improve the exchange and transport of a substantial volume of goods and services among the islands.
It will promote safer and faster transportation, thus improving inter-connectivity, as well as promote local socio-economic growth.
Drilon has been pushing for the PGN Bridge. He said the Korean Exim Bank expressed interest in funding the first phase of the bridge or the Panay-Guimaras portion spanning 13 kms.
The second phase, the Guimaras-Negros bridge, is about 19.47-km long.
The first phase will only cost about P58 billion at today’s exchange rate while the second phase will cost more than double or up to P120 billion.
Korea’s Export-Import Bank had earlier extended a $207-million loan to the Philippine government payable in 30 years at an interest rate of 0.15 percent per annum for the construction of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project, a project that the Ilonggo senator worked hard for to help the Western Visayas’ agricultural sector.
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge’s construction augurs well for the Philippine national development strategy, Drilon said.
It will not only cut travel time among these islands; it will also change the lives and the future of the people of Western Visayas, he stressed./PN
