Interisland bridge ‘impossible’ under Duterte administration

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

Hopes that the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project will begin soon went kaput Thursday after two senators confirmed that there was no way it will kick off under the Duterte administration.

In a virtual press conference on the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (JRMP II) hosted by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the feasibility and engineering studies on the project are still being conducted by the Korea Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) to determine possible funding support.

Korea Eximbank also funded 80 percent of the costs of the JRMP II or the mega-dam in Calinog.

Because of the continuing study, Drilon said that it “did not seem likely” for the bridge project to kick off in the remaining 1 year and 2 months of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

Asked whether it will finally start in the new administration, Drilon explained that it will depend on Eximbank if it will fund the project by then, as well as the thrust of the next administration.

“It depends on, for example, whether the feasibility and engineering studies of the Korean Eximbank will be favorable. At this stage, they are reviewing the feasibility study done by the Chinese government. Whether or not it will be adopted in the next administration will depend on the policies of the next administration and the availability of funds from the Korean Eximbank” Drilon said.

Senator Cynthia Villar, who was also present during the press conference, said she was told by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that the bridge project was “not a priority”.

Citing economic viability, specifically that of Guimaras, she said the DPWH currently has its eyes on another bridge project linking the provinces of Bataan and Cavite.

Senator Villar’s son Mark is the DPWH secretary.

“I asked the DPWH about the [Panay-Guimaras] bridge, and they said it was not in the first priority because the feasibility study with regards to economic benefit is not as best as the others. Because I think it’s important that the connecting provinces would be very progressive so that there would be good economic returns for the project. I think Iloilo is very progressive, but Guimaras is not,” Villar said.

The bridge project connecting Panay, Guimaras, and Negros Islands, was proposed under the Aquino administration in 2013.

The Duterte administration earmarked P40 billion for the project under the “Build, Build, Build” program.

The Chinese government originally approved P27.16 billion in 2018 to kickstart the project in early 2019 but pulled out in October 2020.

 

JRMP II UPDATES

JRMP II acting Project Manager Engr. Jonel Borres stated that the mega-dam project is still expected to finish in 2023 and will be fully operational by the first quarter of 2024.

According to Borres, the project is 37.83 percent complete as of March 31, 2021, exceeding their target of 31.72 percent.

 

This was despite the halt in construction works in several instances in 2020 and 2021 due to restrictions provoked by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

 

As to their financial targets, the project has utilized 36.2 percent of the funding, also exceeding the 32.38 percent target.

The total cost of the project is P11.212 billion which includes Eximbank’s loan and the remaining 20 percent from the national government.

Borres said that while the COVID-19 pandemic affected the project’s development, they said they are “still hopeful” to finish within or ahead of the schedule.

He also clarified several of their projections, including the provision of 86,400 cubic meters of water per day, and the 71 percent projected increase in annual rice yield when the dams become fully operational.

Senator Kiko Pangilinan, who belatedly joined the press conference, suggested that NIA lease a portion of the area to the Department of Energy to maximize the river project’s hydropower potential.

Drilon expressed relief over the updates, stating that it had been a long time coming for the development, which started in 2011.

“It’s already 2021, it’s been 10 years, and another 3 years we have to wait for, so that’s 13 years in the making. We hope that this project will be finished on time because there are many people who are waiting for this because they will be benefitted by this project,” said Drilon.

The JRMP was first implemented via Republic Act No. 2651, which was signed by then-President Carlos P. Garcia on June 18, 1960.

Comprising of three dams, a power plant, and a highline canal, it is seen to benefit 23 municipalities and Passi City in Iloilo province, as well as Iloilo City.