Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge construction might start in 2025

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

The National Economic and Development Authority-Region 6 (NEDA-6) on Thursday clarified the timetable for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge project following earlier reports that it will be constructed soon.

In a statement, the NEDA-6 said that construction might start in 2025 if the preliminary requirements and works proceed as scheduled.

The most important aspect of the project is the completion of the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) and its subsequent approval by the NEDA Board and the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) for funding and actual implementation.

The DED works might start in May 2023 after the Department of Public Works and Highways, the project’s implementing agency, kickstarted the bidding process this February with the submission and receipt of proposals from interested consultants.

The entire DED process will span 18 months, according to NEDA-6.

“This clarifies the news reports carried by several media outlets on the supposed start of the bridge construction,” the press release added.

The DED is vital in the construction of the 32.47-kilometer bridge project.

The project is composed of two sea-crossing bridges connecting the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros. This is a large and complex project that “requires comprehensive and high-standard engineering works to be serviced by consultants who have extensive experience in long-span bridges, which will help DPWH prepare for the construction in an efficient and timely manner,” according to the DPWH-6 regional office.

NEDA-6 Regional Director Arecio Casing was quoted in earlier reports as saying that the DED procurement might be completed in March or April 2023.

“For the PGN bridge, however, it was not discussed during the meeting, but we will be inviting DPWH Project Management Office in the central to give us the latest update. However, for the previous update, the detailed engineering design will be awarded, I believe it was scheduled for March this year and maybe the opening by…might be completed in March, or April, then we will be asking for updates on the status on the awarding of detailed engineering design,” Casing said in an interview with Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo.

DPWH previously confirmed that the South Korean Government, through its Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), would fund the Panay-Guimaras (Segment A) portion of the PGN Bridge project, after the Korean and Philippine governments signed a loan agreement last May 4, 2022.

The $56.6-million loan financed by KEXIM’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) would be utilized for the Engineering Services of the PGN Bridge project, which would include the Preliminary Design and Feasibility Study Review, Detailed Engineering Design and Procurement Assistance.

Reports stated that the Korean government only considered financing the 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras segment as the Guimaras-Negros (Segment B) portion is longer at 19.47 kilometers and requires bigger funding.

Initial information revealed that Segment A of the project would only cost about P58 billion, while Segment B would cost more than double or up to P120 billion.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that they had already started with the DED of the project after the Korean government committed to the Segment A funding.

Bonoan added that they continue to look for investors for the Guimaras-Negros segment, as connecting the three islands – Panay, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental – would be beneficial for the region in terms of public, and goods and service transportation.

The construction of the PGN Bridge, which is one of the priority programs that the DPWH intends to implement in the current administration, has also been pushed since the presidency of Gloria Arroyo, the late Benigno Aquino III, and Rodrigo Duterte.