NOT IN PULUPANDAN: Lacson, Ferrer push changes to Guimaras-Negros bridge design

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – If the top two officials of Negros Occidental will have their way, they do not want the other end of the Guimaras-Negros Bridge in Pulupandan town.

The Guimaras-Negros Bridge is part of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges project approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board.

Based on the initial designs the interisland bridge will pass through Pulupandan town.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will sit down with NEDA officials and request them to change the design by diverting it from Pulupandan.

Lacson recalled that in December 2019, the Provincial Development Council came up with a resolution asking the NEDA to consider areas other than Pulupandan.

But Lacson said the NEDA never responded to the request to hear their side.

He also said that in the recent PDC meeting they were also informed that the NEDA had already approved the plan.

Lacson said he does not know if there is a chance for the design to be altered.

“This is a concern of the fourth district officials and they should be given a chance to explain their concerns.”

Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said he has submitted a position paper to the NEDA Board asking them to move the bridge to Valladolid or Bago City instead of Pulupandan.

Ferrer said that if the bridge ends in Pulupandan, the government will have to pay for the right of way (ROW) in privately-owned property and dislocate houses in three to five barangays in the road widening works.

He added that placing the bridge’s other end in Valladolid would be more advantageuos, particularly by linking it to the coastal highway, as there would no ROW costs nor dislocation of houses.