ILOILO – Three provinces in Panay Island are expected to benefit from a proposed expressway project dubbed ICAEx or the Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway.
The ICAEx, with an estimated length of 210 kilometers and traversing 20 municipalities in the three provinces, is proposed to be a full-access controlled toll expressway with four lanes composed of elevated roadways, viaducts, a tunnel, and a long-span bridge.
It is seen to achieve the following:
* reduce the travel time between the three provinces
* eliminate congestion on the highways by avoiding chokepoints
* ease the delivery of goods due to an enhanced logistics network
* improve emergency response
* provide development opportunities for other tourism destinations in Panay Island
The project was presented to Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Jr. by officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Public Private Partnership (PPP) Service led by Director Alex G. Bote on Wednesday.
ICAEx will connect with the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge, which has a funding commitment from the Korean Eximbank and its detailed engineering is being prepared.
It will start in Barangay M.V. Hechanova in Leganes, Iloilo near the approach of the proposed bridge to Guimaras, and will end in Malay, Aklan which is the gateway to Boracay island.
Defensor assured DPWH of his full support. He said ICAEx would further boost the development of Panay Island, and not just Iloilo Province.
ICAEx has been included in the priority projects of the national government to be implemented through public-private partnership (PPP).
“It is now a concrete project of the national government. We are very happy. We will pursue this. We are thankful to the new administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for making this a priority,” the governor said.
He added: “This is the best news that we have received. We have been pushing for this expressway.”
The Terms of Reference and Estimated Budget for the Contract of the project are currently being finalized, according to Bote.
It is expected to start two years after the investor takes on the project. (PNA/PN)
