EVERY Guimarasnon hopes for ease of access from the island province to Panay Island.
The Panay-Guimaras bridge is a segment of the P189.53-billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project.
Vice Gov. John Edward Gando said the bridge would provide ease to every Guimarasnon, particularly on transportation, wherein they no longer need to ride sea vessels just to go to Iloilo City to go to school, buy groceries, transact in regional government offices, and most importantly, seek medication in tertiary hospitals.
“It will speed up everything, and we are hopeful that this will be realized,” said Gando, adding that the economy would improve as the province becomes more accessible to tourists and investors.
Gando said the province has become more progressive through the efforts of local leaders led by Gov. Joaquin Carlos “JC” Rahman Nava and Congresswoman Lucille Nava, together with the mayors of the five towns of Jordan, Sibunag, San Lorenzo, Nueva Valencia and Buenavista.
“Nag-ayo-ayo kag nag-progreso ang Guimaras,” Gando said, “Makita naton ina sa pagpaninguha sang aton mga lideres…nagsalida ang pangabuhi sang amon pumoluyo.“
According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Western Visayas, a construction phase would only proceed once the detailed engineering design (DED) of the bridge is completed on schedule and approved for funding and implementation by the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) and the NEDA Board.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as the project’s implementing agency, started the bidding process for the DED in February and the Notice to Proceed in May 2023.
The duration of DED preparation is 18 months, starting in January this year.
Once finalized, the proposal, which includes the DED, feasibility study and other documents, will be presented to the ICC and NEDA Board for review and approval.
The PGN has two components:
* 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras bridge, or Section A
* 19.47-kilometer Guimaras-Negros bridge, or Section B
The Panay-Guimaras bridge will have a sea-crossing bridge length of 4.97 kilometers, while the Guimaras-Negros bridge has 13.11 kilometers of sea-crossing bridge length.
In a press release issued by the DPWH-central office on May 11, the department “targets to commence the DED activities for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges by June 2023,”
The engineering services of the 32.47-kilometer PGN Island Bridges are covered by a $56.6 million loan from the government of the Republic of Korea.
“The scope of engineering services is preliminary design, covering review of the feasibility study and preliminary and basic design; detailed engineering design, including estimation of detailed construction cost; and procurement assistance,” read part of the press release.
It added: “Composed of two sea-crossing bridges, the PGN Island Bridges Project will shorten the travel time of commuters and motorists and the transport of goods from Panay to Negros Islands through ferries/RORO from three to four hours to just less than one hour.” (With a report from the DPWH Facebook Page)/PN
