The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has signed a P2.67 billion contract with a group of Korean firms for the detailed engineering design (DED) of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project.
Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan approved the contract for consultant’s services of Yooshin Engineering Corporation in a joint venture with Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects Co., Ltd., Dohwa Engineering Co., Ltd., Soosung Engineering Co., Ltd., and Dasan Consultants Co., Ltd for the DED and tender assistance, a crucial step forward in the realization of this key infrastructure flagship project in Western Visayas Region.
Bonoan said the start of the engineering design for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project is another undertaking of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. under the “Build, Better, More”program that will improve the lives of the people and simultaneously achieve economic stability in the areas in the region.
According to senior undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, the cost of engineering services will be funded by a loan with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), the official export credit agency of South Korea from the official development assistance (ODA) of Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
The DED is targeted to finish by 2025 and will be immediately followed with the civil works from 2025 to 2032 covering the construction of the 32.47 kilometer two (2) sea-crossing bridges and connecting roads that will link Metro Iloilo of Panay Island to Guimaras Island Province and Negros Island in Western Visayas.
Section A will house the Panay-Guimaras Islands with a total length of 13-kilometer with an estimated civil works cost of P57.702 billion.
Meanwhile, Section B covers the 19.47 kilometer Guimaras-Negros Islands bridge amounting to an indicative cost of P109.76 billion.
Once completed, this project is anticipated to reduce the travel time from Panay Island to Negros Island from a four-hour trip via ferries/RORO down to a about one hour land travel using the PGN Island Bridges.
