President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to ensure the completion of the bridge linking Bataan and Cavite on time.

Gracing the  the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Milestones ceremony in Mariveles, Bataan on Friday, March 31, Marcos expressed his expectation that the key infrastructure project would start construction by October this year.

"Let me call once again on the officials and the employees of the DPWH as well as the all the consultants to remain committed to finishing this project on schedule," Marcos said.

"Do your best always to ensure that civil works for this bridge will commence by October this year. Do you best also to deliver what we have proposed so that our people and their localities will live out the picture we have painted as our goals as soon as possible," he added.

During the event, Marcos was given a briefing inside the Motion Bridge Simulator on its significance in the construction of the project.

He also led the ceremonial switching of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Geotechnical Investigation Drilling during the program proper.

The 32-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project is a cable-stayed bridge that will be built over Manila Bay. It will start in Barangay Alas-asin in Mariveles, Bataan and ends in Barangay Timalan Concepcion in Naic, Cavite.

Once completed, the four-lane inter-island bridge project between Bataan and Cavite will reduce travel time from the current five hours to 45 minutes.  It will be one of the longest bridges in the nation and the world.

The project is being developed by the DPWH with technical assistance funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to advance the detailed engineering design and bid documents for the project.

Aside from providing permanent linkage between the two provinces, the bridge project is seen to transform the regional economies of the two provinces and its neighboring localities through improved connectivity, new economic opportunities and jobs.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said on March 14 that the DPWH aims to finish the project before the end of the Marcos' term.

"So to it as well that the bridge once completed will have sufficient links with major thoroughfares in Cavite and Bataan so that it will truly be a facilitator of interconnectivity and linkages among our people and provinces," Marco said.

"I believe that the kind of infrastructure that this country requires are those that come from a profound and genuine understanding of the needs of our people," he added.

"As such I assure you we will remain committed to developing a highly interconnected network of transport that will serve as a backbone and a strong driving force for our rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth," he further said.

The President expressed optimism about the project as it will support the development of seaports in the two provinces, making them potential international gateways for the country.

He also labeled it as "an incredible feat" when it happens as it would significantly help in decongesting Metro Manila with motorist not having to pass through the metropolis.

He further said that it will also help in bringing prices down for goods and services as transport and logistics cost will decrease thereby immense savings all around.

Marcos called the ceremony on Friday "a monumental undertaking of a scale not seen before in our country."

"So coming here marking the milestones related to it thus far is an opportune time to remember the past and dedicate the present to the resilience and the fruition of this project," he said.