President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday applauded the planned construction of the P175.6-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB), which will drastically reduce the travel time from Central Luzon to the Calabarzon region from five hours to just 45 minutes.
“With the BCIB, it is projected that that five hours trip will now become as close – as quick as 30 minutes, reducing by as much as 86 percent, and we are reducing it to maybe 45 minutes of travel,” Mr. Marcos said during the bridge’s milestone ceremony in Mariveles, Bataan.
“That will be an incredible feat when it happens and wouldsignificantly help in decongesting Metro Manila as motorists will be able to travel without passing through the metropolis,” the President pointed out.
The 32.15-kilometer, four-lane, inter-island bridge will connect Brgy. Alas-asin in Mariveles, Bataan and Brgy. Timalan Concepcion in Naic,Cavite. Once completed, it will be the longest bridge in the Philippines.
The BCIB will have two navigational bridges: the 400-meter NorthChannel Bridge and 900-meter South Channel Bridge, which will traverseCorregidor Island. About 80 percent of the structure will be over the sea.
Primarily funded through Official Development Assistance loans fromthe Asian Development Bank (ADB), with co-financing from the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), BCIB’s construction is expected to last for 60 months and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2028.
According to Mr. Marcos, once completed, the bridge will also help in bringing prices down for goods and services, as transport and logistics costs will decrease, “thereby generating immense savings all around.”
New opportunities will likewise be opened in Bataan, Cavite and their surrounding provinces because of the easier access made available to the public.
The bridge’s construction will also support the development of seaports in the two provinces, making them potential international shipping gateways of the country, the President said.
The highlight of Friday’s event was the ceremonial switching of the offshore drilling equipment used in the geotechnical investigation for the BCIB, as well as the presentation of milestones of the project’s Detailed Engineering Design (DED).
The President also thanked the people of Bataan for supporting hiscampaign last year, noting it is now time to give back to them (see related story on A1 — Editors).
“So, this is my chance to come back to you as the President that you did – to come back to you as the President and thank you,” Mr. Marcos said.
“What we will repay you is non-stop work to make the life of everyFilipino better. Expect that your government does not forget you. As long as you said [that] you are in need, we will continue to provide help,” the President pointed out. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
Bataan Gov. Joet Garcia said the 32-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project is a cable-stayed bridge that will be built over Manila Bay.
Its starting point and northern terminus is located at Barangay Alas-asin in Mariveles. The bridge crosses Manila Bay and ends in the southern terminus at Barangay Timalan Concepcion in Naic, Cavite.
President Marcos was briefed inside the Motion Bridge Simulator, particularly its significance in the construction of the project, and led the ceremonial switching of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Geotechnical Investigation Drilling during the program proper, the governor said.
In a press briefing two weeks ago, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that the Department aims to finish the project before the end of the President’s term.
