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Detailed engineering design work on the P187.54 billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project is targeted to start by the first quarter of 2023
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DPWH says procurement of consulting services for the DED and tender assistance is ongoing and submission and receipt of bidding documents is scheduled this December
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The 32.47-kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project, comprising two sea-crossing bridges, will connect the three islands in Region 6
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Once the interlink bridges are built, travel time of 3-4 hours for commuters, motorists and goods vehicles from Panay to Negros via ferries/roll-on/roll-off vessels will be cut to less than an hour
The detailed engineering design (DED) work on the P187.54-billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project in Western Visayas is expected to start in the first quarter of 2023.
Public Works senior undersecretary Emil Sadain said the Department of Finance (DOF) issued on October 24 the proof of authority for the engineering works on the bridges project to activate the loan agreement.
In May, the Philippines and South Korea exchanged copies of the agreement for the US$56.6-million loan extended by the Export-Import Bank of Korea-Economic Development and Cooperation Fund (KEXIM-EDCF) to finance engineering services for the bridges project.
READ: PH borrows $56.6M for Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges project
In line with the loan guidelines, the KEXIM-EDCF issued in September a notice of concurrence with the shortlist of consultants for the DED.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in a statement said the procurement of consulting services for the DED and tender assistance is underway and that submission and receipt of bidding documents are slated for December.
The 32.47-km Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project, comprising two sea-crossing bridges connecting Panay Island, Guimaras Island and Negros Island in Region 6, is a complex project that requires comprehensive and high-standard engineering work to be examined by consultants with extensive experience in long-span bridges.
This scrutiny will help DPWH prepare for the construction in an efficient and timely manner.
Sadain said the scope of engineering scrutiny includes a review of the feasibility study and preliminary and basic design; detailed engineering design including estimation of detailed construction costs; and procurement assistance.
The Infrastructure Development Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority Regional Development Council (RDC) 6 approved the Guimaras-Negros linkage or Section B of the project for endorsement to RDC 6 during the third quarter reorganizational meeting on September 14, 2022.
The project was fully endorsed and approved by the committee during the RDC 6 full council third quarter meeting held on October 13.
The Guimaras-Negros link will comprise a sea-crossing bridge with an estimated length of 13.11 km, road approaches with a total length of 5.49 km and 0.87 km road connectors with a total length of 19.47 km.
On the other hand, the Panay-Guimaras link, or Section A, will comprise a sea-crossing bridge with a length of 4.97 km and road approach with totalling 8.03 km with a total span length of 13 km.
Once the interlinked bridges are constructed, travel time for commuters, motorists and goods vehicles from Panay to Negros Islands currently via ferries/roll-on/roll-off vessels will be shortened from 3-4 hours to just less than an hour.
“We still have a long way to go, but the wait will be worth it, as we have the opportunity to make this dream come true,” Sadain said.
