The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has signed a P2.672-billion contract for the detailed engineering design (DED) works of the 32.47-kilometer inter-island bridge between Panay, Guimaras, and Negros.
DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain signed on Wednesday, Dec. 20, the contract agreement for consulting services for the DED with the bid-winning consultants procured by the Yooshin Engineering Corporation in a joint venture with Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects Co., Ltd., Dohwa Engineering Co., Ltd., Soosung Engineering Co., Ltd., and Dasan Consultants Co., Ltd.
Parties to the contract agreement that gives the green light to conduct the DED are DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Roads Management Cluster I Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista, DPWH OIC-Chief Accountant June E. Balisi, and Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects Co., Ltd. President Jae Hun Ryu.
DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan said the start of DED activities for the bridge project would be carried out in 2025 and are expected to be completed by 2032.
Part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s priorities under the Mega Bridge Program, the PGN bridge project involves the construction of 32.47 kilometers of two (2) sea-crossing bridges, and connecting roads, starting from Metro Iloilo of Panay Island, crossing Guimaras Island Province, and terminating in Negros Island in Western Visayas.
Following the completion of the DED, the project will be approved for finance and actual execution by the National Economic and Development Authority Board and the Investment Coordination Committee.
Sadain said the PGN bridge project will be funded by a loan with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) under a signed $56.6-million loan agreement between the Koreans and the Philippines.
The present four-hour travel time between the three provinces will be reduced to one hour with the Panay-Guimaras-Negros island bridges, according to Sadain.
The project involves the construction of two sections, namely Section A, connecting Panay Island to Guimaras Island, and Section B, linking Guimaras Island to Negros Island, which span 13 kilometers and 19.47 kilometers, respectively.