The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now working on closing the gaps to complete the 3.17-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge Project in Northern Mindanao.
DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said the inter-island bridge project is nearing completion at 90 percent, with just a 38.75-meter gap remaining to link the superstructure between Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, and Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
"We are currently rushing works on both side of the Tangub and Tubod approaches as well as the remaining three gaps to fully connect the whole Panguil Bay Bridge,” said Sadain.
The DPWH explained that the "valuable infrastructure project will significantly boost economic development by acting as a crucial link that enhances and reinforces the region's infrastructure, facilitating smooth transportation of goods and services.
Although the design and build activities for the Panguil Bay Bridge Project were slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the DPWH bared that “this remarkable infrastructure project has started to recover in 2022 and early 2023 anchored on the catch-up plan and construction improvement measures.’’
Funded by a loan agreement between the government of the Philippines and the government of South Korea through its Economic Development Cooperation Fund, the construction work is under joint venture contractor Namkwang-Kukdong-Gumwang with Yooshin Eng’g Corp. in JV with Pyunghwa Eng’g & KyongHo Eng’g & Architects as project consultants.
Sadain emphasized that the bridge project is remarkable due to the main and approach bridges being constructed with cast-in-place pile foundations, utilizing free-cantilever and incremental launching methods, respectively.