House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan is upbeat with the progress on the long-envisioned fixed link connecting the Philippines’ three main island groups--Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

On Sunday, March 15, Libanan reported that a feasibility study for a proposed Luzon–Visayas long-span bridge or undersea road tunnel had been scheduled this year, while a separate study for a Visayas–Mindanao crossing had been planned for 2027.

“The feasibility studies for the twin projects will be carried out one after the other,” Libanan said in a statement.

“Secretary [Vince] Dizon assured us during the meeting that the proposed Luzon–Visayas bridge or undersea motor vehicle tunnel will undergo a feasibility study this year after Congress allocated P130 million to fund it,” Libanan said.

The minority leader was referring to a prior meeting between House of Representatives members and provincial governors from Eastern Visayas and with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Dizon.

“We in Congress are firmly committed to pursuing these transformative projects that will link Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao through fixed and permanent structures,” he added.

Also present at the March 10 meeting with Dizon at the DPWH regional office in Tacloban City were Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales, Eastern Samar Gov. RV Evardone, Northern Samar Gov. Harris Ongchuan, Northern Samar Rep. Edwin Ongchuan, Samar Rep. Stephen James Tan, Samar Rep. Reynolds Michael Tan, Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, and Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla.

Libanan is the principal author of House Bill (HB) No. 4589, which proposes the construction of a bridge or undersea tunnel connecting Sorsogon and Northern Samar.

He also authored HB No. 4950, which calls for a similar crossing between Southern Leyte and Surigao del Norte.

“We envision the projects paving the way for the full economic integration of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. By creating a direct, safe, and dependable land passage between the country’s three main island groups, these links will transform the movement of people, goods, and services nationwide,” he pointed out.

The projects are expected to boost trade, stimulate local economies, and enhance the country’s overall business competitiveness, according to Libanan.

“They will also strengthen domestic tourism by opening vital gateways for direct land travel. These connections will also enable faster disaster response, improve national defense mobility, and promote stronger territorial cohesion,” he noted.

“These are strategic investments in the country’s long-term development and will help ensure balanced economic growth across all regions, as mandated the Constitution,” he added.

At present, transportation between Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao relies heavily on roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry services that are vulnerable to capacity limits, weather disruptions, and delays, affecting the efficient movement of passengers and cargo.

Currently, ferries connect Luzon and the Visayas mainly through routes from Matnog in Sorsogon to Allen in Northern Samar across the San Bernardino Strait. Ferries also connect the Visayas and Mindanao primarily via routes from Liloan in Southern Leyte to Surigao City across the Surigao Strait.