The simultaneous construction of the P321 billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges is a go, a Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) official said Thursday, Jan. 15.
The Department of Public Works and Highways will begin the acquisition of properties needed for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project in April, and procurement of materials for both bridges will start in mid-2027, DEPDev Western Visayas and NIR Regional Director Arecio Casing Jr. said.
Both bridges are expected to be completed in five to six years, he said.
The P1 billion detailed engineering design for the 13-kilometer Iloilo-Guimaras bridge and the 19-kilometer Negros-Guimaras stretch, prepared by a Korean consortium, was completed this month, Casing said.
The DPWH will begin road right-of-way negotiations in Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros for the purchase of affected properties aligned with the bridges, he said.
The Guimaras-Negros stretch will end in Pulupandan town in Negros Occidental.
Construction will be done simultaneously since the Korean consultants already completed the detailed engineering design for the two sections. An international bidding for the construction work will be conducted, Casing said.*