ILOILO City – The construction of the bridge linking Panay and Guimaras islands may commence in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Region 6.
The Panay-Guimaras Bridge is one section of the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge, with the other being the Guimaras-Negros Bridge.
Based on the chronology of updates obtained by Panay News from NEDA-6, secretariat of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-6, the construction of the Panay-Guimaras segment may last up to the second quarter of 2030.
The tentative timeline for the Detailed Engineering Design (DED), meantime, is target to be completed from the fourth quarter of 2022 up to the fourth quarter of 2023.
These updates were shared by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on June 3, 2021 during the 2021 Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) 2nd Quarter Meeting.
The PNG bridges are seen to allow easier access and open a network of more convenient transportation linkage that can transform the flow of people, goods and services between the three islands of Panay (comprising Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo provinces), Guimaras, and Negros (Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental).
On July 13, the DPWH-Unified Project Management Office and Technical Services (UPMO) disclosed that there’s an ongoing process for loan negotiation with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) for the funding of the DED.
The Korea Eximbank is the official export credit agency of South Korea.
BACKTRACK
DPWH Region 6 on March 9, 2021 reported during the 2021 IDC 1st Quarter Meeting that Korea Eximbank already submitted the review assessment of the PGN Bridge Project.
It also reported that the implementation of the project would be “in tranches” – first would be the DED; second is the Panay-Guimaras segment; and the third the Guimaras-Negros section.
On April 14, 2021, NEDA-6 sent a response memorandum to the NEDA-Infrastructure Staff providing comments on the supplemental feasibility study (FS) report conducted by the Korean consultants through Korea Exim Bank Grant and submitted by DPWH for Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) processing.
NEDA noted that the focus of the appraisal of the previous feasibility study completed by the CCC Highway Consultants Co., Ltd. of the People’s Republic of China in 2019 was “mainly on the re-calculation of cost” for the conduct of the DED.
Other important factors such as the detailed environmental and social impact, traffic demand forecasting and intersections analysis, geotechnical investigations, final bridge design, and total project cost will be determined during the DED stage.
On May 19, 2021, NEDA-6 sent a response memorandum to NEDA-Public Investment Staff on the review of the PGN Bridge Project for ICC processing, particularly on the downward cost adjustment on the total cost with the conduct of DED based on the Supplemental FS Report by the Korean consultants.
Further, it conveyed NEDA-6’s endorsement of the early conduct of the DED and the financing under the Korean Export-Import Bank’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund. This is with the understanding that the PGN Bridge project will again undergo the ICC evaluation for the construction phase based on the results of DED.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
On the other hand, there were environmental issues and concerns raised by the provincial government of Negros Occidental which the DPWH-UPMO is set to address.
For these environmental issues such as the presence of the Irrawaddy dolphins and migratory birds, the DPWH-6 proposes to update the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) during the DED works, taking into consideration the presence of the said species.
Other proposals: to determine the time of occurrence of species, which should be avoided during construction; to introduce engineering technology to minimize the negative impacts of construction in the Negros Occidental Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA); and to provide noise barriers such as cofferdam during construction.
DPWH is still waiting for the issuance of the Environmental Compliance Certificate by Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.
DPWH-UPMO also had an online meeting with local officials from Negros Occidental on April 30, 2021 on the proposed alignment of the Guimaras-Negros bridge based on the final FS submitted by the Chinese consultants.
One of the agreements was for the provincial government to submit a Provincial Development Council (PDC) resolution to the IDC on this concern.
‘NOT UNDER DU30 ADMIN’
Earlier this year, Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon said the proposed bridge linking Panay and Guimaras is not likely to be realized under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
China, which earlier expressed interest to fund the project, backed out.
The proposed bridge would supposedly be another travel option when crossing the Iloilo Strait to go to any point in the nearby island province from Iloilo City. It could curb if not totally eliminate fatal sea mishaps.
Based
The Iloilo/Panay-Guimaras Bridge will start in Leganes, Iloilo and end in Buenavista, Guimaras. It would be between four to seven kilometers long.
“Indi ako gusto maghatag sang pag-asa sa aton mga kasimanwa. Sa akon pagtan-aw, we will not realize our dream of having this bridge. One year from now, ban na sang public works (due to the 2022 election). Sa akon nga tan-aw indi na ina mapursige o ma-umpisahan sa administrasyon ni Presidente Duterte,” Drilon said.
The Ilonggo senator hopes the bridge would be realized by the next administration.
“Tani ang sunod nga presidente more sympathetic sa aton banwa kag sa Guimaras para matagaan man sang prayoridad,” said Drilon./PN
