PH seeks China grant for P6.955B Bohol bridge

0
959
PH seeks China grant for Bohol bridge
The four-lane, 2.7-kilometer Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector Project linking mainland Bohol to the island municipalities of Dauis and Panglao will feature the cable-stayed design. Photo from the Department of Public Works and Highways.
  • PH seeks China grant for P6.955B Bohol bridge
  • The grant will finance a bridge connecting Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City in Bohol
  • The four-lane 2.7-kilometer bridge will link mainland Bohol to the island municipalities of Dauis and Panglao and incorporate the cable-stayed design
  • The bridge will cut travel time from Tagbilaran City seaport to Panglao Island to 15 minutes from 45 minutes during peak period and will serve as an alternative route of the Jacinto Borja Bridge and Ambassador Suarez Bridge

The Philippine government is seeking a China grant for the P6.955-billion bridge onnecting Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said in a statement.

The DPWH this year secured the go-signal from the National Economic and Development Authority Board for the proposed Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector Project and has submitted requisite documents to the Department of Finance (DOF) needed in securing a grant financing.

As early as 2020, the DOF confirmed the project to be under a China grant by the Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy during the preparatory session for the Philippines-China High Level Meeting.

According to DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office Operations Emil K. Sadain, the planned four-lane 2.7-kilometer bridge project connecting mainland Bohol to the island municipalities of Dauis and Panglao will incorporate the cable-stayed design.

The new bridge will cut travel time from Tagbilaran City seaport to Panglao Island to 15 minutes from 45 minutes during peak period and will serve as an alternative route of the Jacinto Borja Bridge and Ambassador Suarez Bridge.

DPWH is also eyeing financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the Urgent Bridges Construction Project for Rural Development, Phase II – Component 1. This project has a total length of 4,088 meters and consists of three other bridges: New Mancatian Bridge in Porac/Angeles City, Pampanga; Liloan Bridge, Liloan, Southern Leyte; and Butuan Bridge, Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte.

Public Works Secretary Roger Mercado, meanwhile, said civil works have resumed for the locally-funded component of the Panglao-Tagbilaran bridge project as implemented by DPWH Regional Office 7. Ongoing works is funded by the General Appropriations Act of 2018 and 2020.

The locally funded component covers construction of 240 meters offshore bridges, 42.7 meters short-span bridges, and 1,398 meters of approach road.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR