BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental will endorse the original plan for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge as sought by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Western Visayas, according to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
The original plan identified Pulupandan town as the entry and exit point of the bridge.
Back in 2020, the Provincial Development Council (PDC) devised a resolution regarding locations for the bridge project, but NEDA had not acted on it.
The previous PDC deferred the request of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to endorse the feasibility study on the said project to the Regional Development Council after Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer aired several concerns such as connecting the bridge via the town of Valladolid or Bago City, instead of Pulupandan.
However, it seems that the provincial government has reconsidered its position on the matter.
Lacson revealed that Ferrer and other provincial officials in the 4th District are now amenable to the original plan of Pulupandan town as the entry and exit point of the bridge.
“What is important is that we can start the project,” Lacson said.
When asked as to when the construction of the bridge would begin, Lacson said he has no information yet.
DPWH announced that two groups have qualified to submit their bids; its signaled that the long-delayed project is pushing through.
The South Korea-based Yoshin Co. and Sambo Engineering and Construction Co. are reportedly interested in submitting their bid proposals for the detailed engineering design (DED) by Sept. 23./PN
