ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 is optimistic that consultants will submit the detailed engineering design (DED) for Section A of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridges by December 2024.
As of September 28, 2024, the actual completion of the DED for Section A, being handled by Yooshin Engineering Company and Dasan Consultants, stands at 54.73 percent.
DPWH-6 director Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel said Section A of the project spans 13.636 kilometers, while Section B, which connects Guimaras to Negros, extends 19.470 kilometers.
Oropel noted that the procurement process for Section A is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2025, with construction or civil works expected to begin in the second half of 2025.
“The expected start of the project is in the second semester of 2025 for Section A, and it is projected to be completed by June 2028,” said Oropel.
He added that by June 2028, both Ilonggos and Guimarasnons could start enjoying the benefits of the bridge, especially during the 2029 Manggahan Festival.
For Section B, which involves the Guimaras-Negros Bridge, the DED is expected to be submitted by December 2025.
However, actual construction for Section B may not begin until after 2028, with no specific timeline yet for procurement and civil works.
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges project, a highly anticipated infrastructure development, has an estimated total investment of nearly P170 billion.
The Panay-Guimaras section, or Section A, is projected to cost P57 billion, while the Guimaras-Negros section, or Section B, is estimated at P109.8 billion.
This project is seen as a game-changer for inter-island connectivity, significantly improving regional transportation and the local economy.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan previously approved the consultancy services contract for this flagship project. Yooshin Engineering Corporation, in partnership with Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects Co., Ltd., Dohwa Engineering Co., Ltd., Soosung Engineering Co., Ltd., and Dasan Consultants Co., Ltd., is handling the DED.
Earlier this year, consultants met with the Iloilo provincial government and presented the project timeline and description to Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, representing Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
The project involves constructing 32.47 kilometers of sea-crossing bridges, connecting roads, and interchanges, linking Panay Island to Guimaras Island, and Guimaras Island to Negros Island.
Section A, the Panay-Guimaras segment, will span 13.004 kilometers, while Section B, the Guimaras-Negros segment, will cover 19.47 kilometers.
The design phase for the project runs from December 2023 to June 2026, with a total estimated project cost of P187.54 billion.
Section A will connect Leganes, Panay, to Buenavista, Guimaras, while Section B will link San Lorenzo, Guimaras, to Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.
Key features of Section A include:
* Approach roads (Panay and Guimaras) – 8.03 kilometers
* Approach Bridge 1 – 3.24 kilometers
* Main Bridge – 1.4 kilometers
* Approach Bridge 2 – 0.33 kilometers
For Section B, the features include:
* Approach roads (Guimaras and Negros) – 6.36 kilometers
* Approach Bridge 1 – 7.2 kilometers
* Main Bridge – 1.4 kilometers
* Approach Bridge 2 – 4.51 kilometers
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges project is aligned with the Philippine National Development Strategy, aiming to provide safer, faster, and more convenient transportation between the islands, reducing travel time from three to four hours to less than one hour./PN
