Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Thursday, July 27, that the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges will definitely start during the Marcos administration. Benitez said he will lobby for the Panay to Guimaras and Guimaras to Negros bridges to be built simultaneously so time is not wasted.
The original plan is to build the Panay to Guimaras bridge first, he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos in his state of the nation address on Monday said the PGN Island Bridges spanning 32 kilometers are among the priorities for construction under his administration.
Marcos cited the prioritization of physical connectivity under the country’s P8.3 trillion “Build Better More” program to further spur economic growth.
Benitez said the detailed engineering design work for the PGN bridges had been bidded out and it’s just a matter of awarding.
The bridges will promote economic development, Benitez said.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the fact that the president mentioned the PGN bridges in his SONA means it will happen.
The bridges will greatly benefit Negros, Lacson said.*