Panay–Guimaras–Negros Island Bridges
Panay–Guimaras–Negros Island Bridges | |
|---|---|
| Crosses | Iloilo Strait Guimaras Strait |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 32.47 km (20.18 mi) |
| No. of spans | 2 |
| First section length | 4.97 km (3.09 mi) |
| Second section length | 13.11 km (8.15 mi) |
| History | |
| Construction start | 2Q 2025 |
| Construction end | 2030 |
| Construction cost | ₱189 billion |
ThePanay–Guimaras–Negros (PGN) Island Bridges is a planned network of bridges in the Visayas in the Philippines connecting the islands of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros.
History
[edit]Earlier proposals
[edit]There were several proposals to build bridges linking the islands in Visayas. Plans to connect Guimaras and Panay was proposed as early as the president Corazon Aquino's administration of 1986 to 1992.[1] In 1999, the Japan International Cooperation Agency created a master plan for two bridges connecting Panay, Guimaras, and Negros; the first bridge, spanning 20.6 kilometers (12.8 mi), was planned to link Leganes, Iloilo to Buenavista, Guimaras, while the second bridge also measuring 20.6 kilometers (12.8 mi) was meant to connect San Lorenzo, Guimaras to Pulupandan, Negros Occidental. The Department of Public Works and Highways conducted a study on building bridges that would connect Panay, Guimaras, and Negros which were projected to require a ₱28.5 billion budget if the bridges are to be built.[2]
In 2013, Governors Arthur Defensor Sr. of Iloilo and Alfredo Marañón Jr. of Negros Occidental made an alternative proposal that would bypass Guimaras and directly link Banate (in Iloilo) and E.B. Magalona (in Negros Occidental) via a 14.5 kilometers (9.0 mi) bridge.[2]
Chinese-funded proposal
[edit]The PGN Island Bridges is part of the Philippine government's National Islands-Link Projects. The project which was tagged part of President Rodrigo Duterte's Build! Build! Build! program consist of two bridges the 2.7 km (1.7 mi) Panay–Guimaras Bridge (Phase I) and the 4.8 km (3.0 mi) Panay–Guimaras Bridge (Phase II).[3] A third phase connecting Negros and Cebu islands with a 8 km (5.0 mi) was also earlier proposed.[1] Construction was project to start early 2019 and was to be funded by the Chinese government through a grant.[4] The Chinese investors reportedly lost interest in 2020.[5]
Current project
[edit]By May 2022, the local Philippine governments are now negotiating an alternative proposal from South Korean government for the PGN Island Bridges.[6] The project was inherited by president Bongbong Marcos's administration.[7]
The project now to be funded via Korea Eximbank underwent another feasibility study involving Yooshin Engineering with Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects, Dohwa Engineering, Soosung Engineering and Dasan Consultants.[8]
The Section A or the Panay–Guimaras portion's construction is projected to start in mid-2025 and finished by the end of June 2028.[8][9] Section B or the Guimaras–Negros portion is scheduled for completion by 2030.[9] The whole project including the connecting roads is estimated to cost ₱189 billion.[10]
Specification
[edit]The whole Panay–Guimaras–Negros Island Bridges network, including connecting in-land roads, will be 32-kilometer (20 mi) long. It has two sections.[5][10][11]
| Portion | Length | Connects | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea-crossing bridge | Total | |||
| Section A (Panay–Guimaras) | 4.97 km (3.09 mi) | 13 km (8.1 mi) | Leganes, Iloilo | Buenavista, Guimaras |
| Section B (Guimaras–Negros) | 13.11 km (8.15 mi) | 19.47 km (12.10 mi) | San Lorenzo, Guimaras | Pulupandan, Negros Occidental |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Sornito, Ime. "Iloilo-Guimaras bridge may be completed before 2022". Panay News. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ a b Dangcalan, Danny (June 22, 2013). "Proposed bridge linking Negros, Panay revived". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ^ "Feasibility Study of Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project" (PDF). CCCC Highway Consultants Co., Ltd. August 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ Conserva, Louine Hope. "Construction for Iloilo-Guimaras bridge eyed end-2018". BusinessWorld. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ a b De Guzman, Rhoanne; Nuval, Valerie Joyce; Caling, Rhenzel Raymond (October 15, 2024). "News Visayas bridge construction still hangs 5 years after China's withdrawal". Vera Files. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ "Korea lends US$56.6M for Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridges: Construction to start in 2025". May 5, 2022. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ Padilla, April Grace (February 13, 2025). "Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges' Detailed Engineering Design nears completion". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ a b Marzan, Joey (June 1, 2024). "Panay-Guimaras bridge construction to start in 2025". Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Lena, Perla (May 28, 2024). "Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges to transform reg'l connectivity". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Dalipe, Gerome IV (February 17, 2025). "Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge construction to begin this year". Panay News. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ "Engineering Design of Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project to Start Early 2023". Department of Public Works and Highways. November 10, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
