The construction of an inter-island bridge that will connect Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Tubod in Lanao Del Norte is progressing steadily, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) saying it is now at 56 percent completion stage.
DPWH Sec. Manuel M. Bonoan said the Panguil Bay Bridge has a total length of 3.169 kilometers and once completed, it would be the longest bridge built in Mindanao.
The present connectivity between Ozamis City/Tangub City and Tubod through Roll-On, Roll Off (RoRo) vessels is about one and a half hour to two and a half hour including loading and unloading time while land travel over a distance of 100 kilometer is at two to two and a half hour.
“This is being constructed to provide easy connectivity. This ongoing inter-island bridge project is a game-changer as it would go a long way to solve travel woes faced by the people of Northern Mindanao,” said Bonoan.
DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain said the contractor and consultant Yooshin Engineering Corporation in joint venture with Pyunghwa Engineering Consultants Ltd. and Kyong-Ho Engineering & Architects Co., Ltd. are accelerating works on site as they seek to complete the project within the targeted time frame of December 2023.
Sadain attributed the speed in the construction to the construction techniques and use of modern equipment and machinery.
He said this resulted in the completion of all the 54 bored piling works off-shore and on-shore for the two abutments each with two bored piles, 32 piers including the main bridge pier 17 and pier 18 each with four bored piles, and pylon 1 and pylon 2 each with six bored piles.
He added that the installation of prestressed concrete house for pylon 1 and 2, and coping and column of some piers are completed while equipment and materials are being prepared to commence the incremental launching method for both ends of the bridge.
“One of the DPWH infrastructure flagship projects that has created jobs for locals, changing lives and livelihoods, this bridge project will lower the cost of doing business by lowering vehicle operating costs, reducing travel time, and improving mobility,” said Sadain.