ILOILO CITY -- The Western Visayas regional office of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-6) clarified that the detailed engineering design for the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) bridges has not been approved.

“This clarifies the news reports carried by several media outlets on the supposed start of the bridge construction,” said NEDA-6 in a statement released Thursday, Feb. 23.

Some local media in Iloilo reported that bidding for the construction may be next month, but NEDA-6 reiterated that construction can only start if there’s an approved detailed engineering design.

If everything is on schedule and there’s an approval from the Investment Coordination Committee and the NEDA Board, construction of the bridge may start in 2025.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) started the bidding process for the DED with the submission and receipt of proposals this month and a notice to proceed may be issued in May 2023.

“The duration of DED preparation is 18 months,” stressed NEDA-6.

The more than half a century proposal to link the key Visayan islands was supposed to be a priority project under the Duterte administration, but did not push through. 

Last year, the DPWH announced that South Korea is giving a loan of US$56.6 million for the proposed PGN bridges.