The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it signed a P2.67-billion contract with a group of Korean companies for the detailed engineering design (DED) of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan approved the contract for consultant’s services of Yooshin Engineering Corp. in a joint venture with Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects Co. Ltd., Dohwa Engineering Co. Ltd., Soosung Engineering Co. Ltd. and Dasan Consultants Co. Ltd for the DED and tender assistance, a crucial step forward in the realization of the infrastructure flagship project in Western Visayas.
Bonoan said the start of DED for Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project is a monumental undertaking of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under the “Build, Better, More” program that will improve the lives of the people and simultaneously achieve economic stability in the region.
DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain said the cost of the engineering services would be funded by a loan with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), the official export credit agency of South Korea from the official development assistance (ODA) of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
The DED is expected to be finished by 2025 and will be immediately followed with the civil works from 2025 to 2032, covering the construction of the 32.47-kilometer two sea-crossing bridges and connecting roads that will link Metro Iloilo of Panay Island to Guimaras province and Negros Island in Western Visayas.
Section A will house the Panay-Guimaras Islands bridge with a total length of 13 km. and estimated civil works cost of P57.702 billion.
Section B covers the 19.47-km.m Guimaras-Negros Islands bridge amounting to P109.76 billion.
Once completed, the project is anticipated to reduce the travel time from Panay Island to Negros Island from a four-hour trip via ferries/RORO to about one hour.