Presidential hopeful Leni Robredo vowed that she would fast-track the implementation of the bridge project connecting the islands of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros in Western Visayas once elected president in the May 2022 elections.
“Kung kami po ni Senator Kiko [Pangilinan] ay palarin, we will wholeheartedly support this project because we know how advantageous it would be to the people of Guimaras, Negros, and Panay Islands,” she said during a press conference on Friday, Dec. 3.
“Magiging life-changing po ito. So this project is something that everyone should look forward to and support,” she added.
Last October, DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Management Office Operations Emil Sadain said the Republic of Korea committed official development assistance loan to the country through the KEXIM Bank-Economic Development Cooperation Fund to finance the DED (detailed engineering design) of this immense flagship bridge project.”
According to Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon, the Chinese contractor backed out from funding the proposed bridge.
“Senator Frank updated me na dapat sana ay tuluy-tuloy na iyon pero ‘yung Chinese contractor ay nag-backout, so mayroon siyang mga delays na ma-iincur,” said Robredo.
“Because of the delays, ang bagong timetable nito would be 2028 pa.”
The bridge project has two components: the 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras section that will have a sea-crossing bridge length of 4.97 kilometers and the Guimaras-Negros section with a total length of 19.47 kilometers including sea-crossing bridge length of 13.11 kilometers.IMT
