The proposed bridge connecting the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros is now ready to be financed by an official development assistance (ODA) loan from China, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar.
“Tapos na ‘yung FS (feasibility study). Very soon it will be with NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority. So it’s now in the advance stages of planning, so malapit na,” Villar said on Thursday, Oct. 24.
The feasibility study for the P27.1-billion bridge was undertaken by CCC Highway Consultants Co. Ltd., a Chinese consultancy firm.
Villar and Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce and International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen exchanged on Thursday the handover certificates for the proposed bridge and an expressway project in Davao City worth P25.6 billion
The exchange of documents, Villar said, signals the start of the process of loan financing for the projects, which are part of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program.
“Yes, it’s for loan agreement, it will have to hurdle the NEDA first pero at least at this point the FS was a major accomplishment already so konti na lang,” Villar said.
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge will be built in two phases – 14.3-kilometer Panay-Guimaras link and 5.7-kilometer Guimaras-Negros link.
Last month, Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon said San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president Ramon S. Ang is “interested” in funding the construction of the Iloilo-Guimaras bridge.
“Gin-explain ko ang taytay kay Mr. Ang and nangin interesado sya,” the senator said.
The Iloilo-Guimaras bridge will start in Leganes, Iloilo and will end in Buenavista, Guimaras while the Guimaras-Negros bridge will start and end in San Lorenzo, Guimaras and Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, respectively.IMT
