Capiz bridge retrofit boosts Roxas heritage

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Retrofitting and rehabilitation work on the historic Capiz Bridge is now underway.

About PHP 20 million was allocated by Capiz 1st District Rep. Ivan Howard A. Guintu for the project after Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas sought the intervention of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas in July last year to help ensure the safety and structural integrity of the century-old bridge.

The Roxas City bridge, historically called Capiz Bridge or Tulay Grande, is a century-old structure in the heart of Capiz.

Spanning the Panay River, the bridge connects Roxas Avenue to the city plaza and serves as an iconic gateway near the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral.

The bridge was originally constructed with wood in 1841 during the Spanish period and was later rebuilt in concrete by American military engineers between 1908 and 1910.

Often associated with Roxas City’s “Venice of the Visayas” identity, the bridge offers views of the Panay River and the Roxas Cathedral.

The project aims to preserve the bridge’s historical value while improving its structural safety for motorists, pedestrians, and the public.

The rehabilitation and retrofitting project is being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas.

The project was awarded to JMTECH Construction and Supply for PHP 26.8 million.