• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project is inching towards reality as the national government already allocated a full budget for its detailed engineering design (DED) expected to be completed in 21 months.
This was confirmed yesterday by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who along with Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, was briefed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Korean consultants at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City earlier this week.
Lacson said that the DED funding has been included in the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
Last month, the DPWH signed a contract with Yooshin Engineering Corp. and its partners, Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects Co. Ltd., Dohwa Engineering Co., Ltd., Soosung Engineering Co. Ltd., and Dasan Consultants Co. Ltd, for the DED of the PGN Island Bridges project valued at P2.671 billion.
Section A covers a 13-kilometer stretch between Panay and Guimaras islands, while Section B, spanning 19.47 kilometers, will connect San Lorenzo in Guimaras and Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.
The civil works is expected to take place between 2025 and 2032.
In a statement, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that the start of DED for the PGN Island Bridges Project is another monumental undertaking of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under the “Build, Better, More” program that will improve the lives of the people and simultaneously achieve economic stability in Region 6 areas.
“Once completed, this project is anticipated to reduce the travel time from Panay Island to Negros Island from a four-hour trip via ferries or roll-on, roll-off to about one hour land travel,” it added. | GB
