The proposed bridge connecting the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros remains as one of priority projects of the Duterte administration, according to Presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo.

“Kumbaga na-i-start na naming ‘yan. Never na nashelved ‘yan,” Panelo said in an interview after he paid a courtesy call on Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Thursday afternoon, Aug. 20.

In July 2016, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) introduced the Panay-Guimaras Negros bridge as among the projects included in the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure modernization program.

Panelo said he called DPWH Secretary to personally ask the status of the long overdue project.

“[Sabi niya] nadelay lang because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he told reporters.

Last June, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-6) said the construction of the P27.1-billion may start in 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2030.

The project will be built in two phases – 14.3-kilometer Panay-Guimaras link and 5.7-kilometer Guimaras-Negros link.

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