ILOILO City – Will President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. mention the long-proposed bridge connecting Iloilo and Guimaras in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) today?
Mayor Jerry Treñas and Cong. Julienne Baronda are hopeful the President would issue a marching for the Iloilo-Guimaras bridge’s construction.
“The bridge will enhance economic development in the city and province of Iloilo as well as Guimaras,” according to Treñas.
Marcos will deliver his SONA at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City this afternoon.
“We are ready to support the legislative agenda of the Marcos government. We are ready to champion bills that support the President’s people-centered goals,” said Baronda.
During the campaign period for the May 2022 elections, Marcos’ sister, Sen. Imee Marcos during a visit to Iloilo said she was confident that the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge – of which the Iloilp-Guimars is a part of – would be realized within the next administration, which eventually turned out to be her brother’s.
“There are many others (infrastructure projects) but the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge I can very categorically and committedly say this is not a promise,” said Senator Marcos.
She revealed that the PGN bridge project was already in the advanced stage of planning.
“The next administration must finish this. There can be no excuses na hindi ito matapos,” she said.
The proposed project has two components. These are the 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras or Section A that will have a sea-crossing bridge length of 4.97 kilometers; and the Guimaras-Negros or Section B or with a total length of 19.47 kilometers including a sea-crossing bridge length of 13.11 kilometers.
The supplementary feasibility study report and engineering service provision for the project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee in August 2021.
Now Sen. Mark Villar, the former Public Works secretary, previously vowed to push for the completion of the mega bridge project.
During the Senate Committee on Finance’s hearing October last year on the proposed 2022 budget of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), then senator Franklin Drilon criticized the delay in the construction of the PGN bridge.
“To be honest, I am totally disappointed at the attention given to this project as evidenced by the timetable that you have just mentioned,” Drilon said.
NEDA told Drilon that the detailed engineering study may start in October 2022 yet and the construction may commence in 2025 and be finished by 2030.
“Nine years from now. I guess that is what we have to face. I just want NEDA and this government to be candid and tell this is what it is kaysa paasahin ang mga tao,” Drilon lamented.
“I have been following this up with you (NEDA). Hindi ako nagkukulang. I cannot understand this inordinate delay. I can only point to the obvious lack of attention and support for this very important project,” he added.
According to Drilon, Western Visayans have been expecting the project as this would “improve their lives and open more economic opportunities.”/PN
