Trans-Visayas Friendship Bridge project to tap foreign funding sources
Local government officials in Visayas have agreed to tap foreign funding for the construction of the proposed Panay-Negros bridge.
The proposed bridge is the first of the ambitious Trans-Visayas Friendship Bridges that will link all the Visayan islands.
Joseph G. Marañon, Negros Occidental Governor said the bridge would cost P10 billion.
It will start from Tomongtong point in EB Magaloña town in Negros Occidental to San Juan Point, Banate town in Iloilo on Panay island, Maranon said.
"We are targeting the project to be completed three to four years and we would need foreign assistance considering the magnitude of the project," Marañon said.
The Trans-Visayas Friendship Bridge aims to boost tourism, trade, commerce and investments in all three Visayas regions.
"These are part of the Arroyo administration's Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH). The bridge will link Panay, Negros, Cebu, Mactan (Cebu), Bohol and Leyte.
Panay, Negros Occidental and Guimaras islands make up the Western Visayas region while Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol and Siquijor island comprise Central Visayas.
On the other hand, Leyte and Samar islands make up the Eastern Visayas region.
He said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) initially proposed to construct a bridge connecting Panay to Guimaras island and another bridge connecting Guimaras to Negros island.
"But the Negros-Guimaras bridge, with a length of 2.3 kilometers would be more expensive than a direct Negros-Panay link, with a length of only 15.5 kilometers from Tomongtong and San Juan Points.
He estimated that construction would cost P1-billion per kilometer but a more accurate figure would be determined by a feasibility study.
"The bridge seems a far-fetched goal but we have to start now. If not, then, when? If we will not do it, who else will?," Marañon asks.
He said that the bridge would be accessible because Banate, the Iloilo end of the proposed bridge, is only two kilometers from the national road while Tomongtong, the Negros end of the bridge, is about three kilometers from the national road.
(PNA)