ILOILO City – The geotechnical study for the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) of the Panay-Guimaras bridge, part of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) link project, is now 85 percent complete, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6.
However, unforeseen challenges have necessitated adjustments to the original design, particularly regarding the foundation depth.
Thie PGN project, when completed, will reduce travel time between Panay, Guimaras, and Negros islands from three to four hours to just under an hour.
The consulting firms — Yooshin Engineering Corporation, in a joint venture with Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects Co., Ltd., Dohwa Engineering Co., Ltd., Soosung Engineering Co., Ltd., and Dasan Consultants Co., Ltd. — encountered strong underwater currents in the Guimaras area, prompting them to modify their equipment to withstand the conditions.
Another significant factor affecting the project’s timeline is the unexpectedly deep foundation required for the bridge’s bored piles.
DPWH Region 6 director Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel said initial estimates placed the necessary foundation depth at 75 meters, but actual studies indicate that it may need to extend as deep as 175 meters.
“Until now, we have not determined the exact depth required. The original estimate was 75 meters, but the ongoing geotechnical study has revealed the need for a deeper foundation,” Oropel told Panay News.
Once the precise depth is established, the consultants will finalize the appropriate length for the bored piles.
Despite the delay, DPWH remains optimistic that the DED will be completed by the second quarter of this year, allowing for the loan agreement to be signed before the year ends.
The government aims to complete this Segment A of the Panay-Guimaras Bridge before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leaves office in June 2028.
“Everything is under control by our consultants, and we are hopeful that the project can start earlier so that the President’s commitment to complete the bridge before 2028 will be fulfilled,” Oropel said.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan previously acknowledged that the project faced minor delays due to necessary technical adjustments.
During his visit to Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, on March 11, he confirmed that the bridge’s foundation depth had to be reassessed from 75 meters to at least 150 meters, prompting a review of the engineering design.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, outgoing chair of the Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC), announced that civil works for Segment A are expected to commence in July 2026.
Key milestones include the signing of the loan agreement in September 2025, the start of construction in July 2026, and the bridge’s completion and opening in June 2028.
Treñas recalled the long journey to realizing the project, saying, “For years, everyone has dreamed of this. When I was in Congress in 2010, I prepared a resolution, signed by all Western Visayas congressmen, urging the government to prioritize this. Now, in 2025, that dream is finally coming true.”
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Link Bridge, estimated to cost P189 billion, consists of two major sections.
* Section/Segment A – the 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras segment, including a 4.97-kilometer sea-crossing bridge
* Section/Segment B – the 19.47-kilometer Guimaras-Negros segment, featuring a 13.11-kilometer sea-crossing bridge
The bridge will span the waters separating Panay, Guimaras, and Negros, requiring advanced engineering solutions to address the challenging marine environment and terrain./PN
