ILOILO City – The government of the Republic of Korea is ready to extend financial support in the conduct of engineering services for the much-awaited inter-island bridges project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas.
Following the completion of supplemental feasibility studies by the Koreans is the detailed engineering design (DED) of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge Project, DPWH acting secretary Roger Mercado said.
The soon-to-be longest bridge in Region 6 will be the fastest way by land where people can leisurely cross Iloilo, Guimaras and Bacolod for commerce, tourism, and other essential travels, added Mercado.
The minutes of discussion for the financial support on engineering services including preliminary and detailed engineering design and procurement assistance required prior to the construction of the bridge was signed on Thursday, Oct. 28, by DPWH undersecretary for Unified Management Office Operations (UPMO) Emil Sadain and Country Director Jae-jeong Moon from the Manila Representative Office of the Korea Export-Import (KEXIM) Bank.
The proposed island bridges connecting Panay Island, Guimaras Island and Negros Island 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 Guimaras-Negros or Section B or with a total length of 19.47 kilometers including 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.
The 32-kilometer bridge is a large and complex project which requires comprehensive and high-standard engineering works that service by consultants who have extensive experience in long-span bridge will help DPWH prepare the construction in an efficient and timely manner, Sadain said.
The signing ceremony on Oct. 28 was also attended by Deputy Director Soohhyung Han and Ana Labella of KEXIM Bank, and Project Director Benjamin Bautista of DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral).
Sadain said the Koreans has committed official development assistance (ODA) loan to the Philippines through the KEXIM Bank – Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to finance the DED of this immense flagship bridge project. The loan will be formalized with the signing ceremony scheduled in December 2021./PN
