BACOLOD CITY – The construction of the Iloilo-Guimaras Bridge faces a slight delay due to the need for a more detailed engineering study, said Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
MAYOR Miguel Peña (left) accompanies National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan (center) during his recent visit to the site of Guimaras-Negros Bridge in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental. (Photo via Pulupandan LGU)
Lacson said that the project requires further assessment, specifically increasing the construction depth from 75 meters to 150 meters.
He said this was discussed in a meeting with National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan during his recent visit here.
Balisacan inspected the Guimaras-Negros Bridge site in Pulupandan town as part of his visit.
Despite the delay, Lacson remained optimistic as NEDA assured him that the Guimaras-Negros Bridge remains a priority for the national government.
Lacson said that once the Iloilo-Guimaras engineering study is completed, the detailed engineering study for the Guimaras-Negros Bridge is expected to begin six months later.
He is hopeful that the construction will begin in the latter part of 2026 or in 2027.
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project is 33.086-kilometers long and estimated to cost P167.5 billion.
It is divided into two sections – Panay-Guimaras Bridge (Section A) with a length of 13.616 kilometers and expected to cost P57 billion and Section B or the P109.8 billion, 19.470-kilometer long Guimaras-Negros Bridge.