"We waited for this for such a long time."

Many years after its inception, the P8.3-billion Panguil Bay Bridge Project is finally ready to service the people from Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Tubod town, Lanao del Norte.

President Marcos, who led the inauguration on Friday morning, Sept. 27, said the 3.2-kilometer project, now the longest water-spanning bridge in Mindanao, not only connects the two provinces but also promotes increased economic activity as it cuts a two-hour journey to just seven minutes and will benefit over 10,000 travelers daily.

"More than just a physical bridge, we are connecting the dreams and aspirations of the people of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental," he said in his speech in Barangay Silanga in Tangub, Misamis Occidental.

"The bridge is a gateway to a world where distance no longer limits dreams, where aspirations can take flight, and where the ambitions of entrepreneurs fuel growth and prosperity," he added.

The newly opened infrastructure is expected to improve the transport systems linking the region’s coastal areas and facilitate 24/7 mobility of people, goods, and services, propelling economic growth in the surrounding areas.

Joining President Marcos in the inauguration were First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa.

Construction

The project began with a pre-feasibility study in 1998 followed by several feasibility assessments and comprehensive business case studies to secure National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approval in May 2015.  

The following years involved careful planning, multiple approvals, and adjustments until it reached the procurement phase in 2018, with bids evaluated and contracts signed in November 2019.  

The construction of the two-way, two-lane bridge connecting Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte finally started on Feb. 28, 2020, and was completed this month.

The project is funded through a loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GOP) and the Korean Export-Import Bank (Korea Eximbank).

It is one of the 198 high-impact priority infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) under the administration’s “Build, Better, More" program.

Design

According to the DPWH, the bridge was meticulously designed using extensive geotechnical surveys and advanced Korean bridge technology including reverse circulation drilling on barges to create boreholes and launching of thick permanent steel casings using revolving crane barges and vibro pile hammers. Additionally, two land- and sea-based batching plants supplied ready-mixed concrete for the project.

The bridge features 54 board piles for 32 piers, ensuring a solid foundation capable of supporting the megastructure that carries a two-lane, two-way traffic with carriageway width of 13 meters.

The project includes a 360-meter approach road leading to a 1,020-meter approach bridge on the Tangub City side, alongside a 569-meter approach road connecting to a 900-meter approach bridge on the Tubod side. Both approaches were built using pre-stressed concrete box girders through an incremental launching method.

The design likewise features an extra-dosed main bridge, with a 320-meter central span, supported by two pylons standing 20 meters tall, anchored by six cable stays, and complemented by a lighting system, providing structural support and enhancing bridge aesthetics and safety for nighttime travel.