The construction of Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros bridge is one of the priority projects of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexie Nograles said this in the sidelines of his visit in Iloilo on August 19-20, 2019.
In an interview with the media, Nograles said that the project still has to go through some processes, such as feasibility study, detailed engineering, and design before it will be approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
“It is one of our priorities. We do hope that this major project can be started next year. It is high time that we build this bridge, that’s why I discussed it with Secretary Villar (Mark Villar of DPWH),” said Nograles.
He added that he will also discuss the project with Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Director-General of NEDA, when he returns to Manila.
Iloilo-Guimaras bridge has been proposed for many years by past administrations, but it did not materialize.
Recently, Senator Grace Poe has asked the Senate Committee on Public Works to check the status of the bridge project with DPWH, particularly its financial costs and economic benefits.
Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon also urged the national government to implement the project, after the sea tragedy in Iloilo Strait on August 3 that claimed the lives of 31 passengers.
“It is the right time indeed to build the bridge,” said Drilon.
The Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros bridge project includes the construction of 4-kilometer bridge from Iloilo to Guimaras, and additional 15-kilometer bridge connection Guimaras and Negros.
The proposed P40 billion project is to be funded by official development assistance (ODA) or loan from China.(via Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo)
I am working in a large International Engineering Consultancy dealing and doing a project the with the same complexity as this project. I wonder why it take almost 3 years to prepare the FS and Detailed Engineering and Design for this proposed project. Usually FS will take 6 to 9 months and Detailed Engineering and Design for 12 months to 18 months. We are working with 6B US dollar project starting from FEED to Detail Engineering & Design takes only 24 months to complete with 10/30/60/90 & 100% method of review. But this bridge project is too small just a billion of dollar but its long to complete. DPWH must work diligently its seams that the pace of the documentation works is longer compare to implementation works. Wake up DPWH and NEDA don’t fall asleep.
Source of funding the bridge construction I think is the reason why up to now it has not yet started.