• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros Inter-Island Bridges (PGNIB) project is expected to start construction within the next two years, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan told senators Oct. 10.
Bonoan said the PGNIB’s engineering design will undergo a rebidding process by next year.
“For Panay-Guimaras, the detailed engineering design (DED)…unfortunately, it’s going to be rebid – the consultancy services for the detailed engineering design,” he said during the Senate deliberation of the DPWH’s 2024 proposed budget, as reported by the Philippine News Agency. “But we are confident that we will be able to award by December this year so that the DED will probably commence by next year.”
The engineering services of the 32.47-kilometer PGNIB, a long-time dream project in the Western Visayas region, is covered by loans from the Government of the Republic of Korea, the DPWH earlier said.
It added that the scope of engineering services includes preliminary design covering review of the feasibility study and preliminary and basic design; DED, including the estimation of detailed construction cost; and procurement assistance.
Composed of two sea-crossing bridges connecting Panay, Guimaras, and Negros, the project is expected to shorten the travel time of commuters and motorists, as well as the transport of goods from Panay to Negros, through Roll On, Roll Off vessels, from three hours to just less than one hour.
The DPWH earlier said the project has civil works timeline from 2026 to 2030.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson recently said he remains optimistic that the project will be realized despite the latest setback, since this is included in the list of projects to be pursued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. | CGC
