New bridges in the Philippines: What's completed, under construction, stalled

BRIDGING THE GAP: Despite the on-going pandemic and the costly response, infrastructure rollout continues under the “Build Build Build” program. The centrepiece of Duterte’s presidency has a budget of 8 trillion pesos ($164.7 billion) over a six-year period (2017-2022) and is one of the key drivers — if not the main driver — of the country’s economic recovery plan. It consists of around 20,000 infrastructure projects, including new bridges to connect some of the major islands and decongest the capital Manila.

PANGUIL BAY BRIDGE | Length 3.77 km | Cost: 6.4 billion pesos ($131.4 million) | Construction started: February 28, 2020 | Completion date: 2023 | The bridge will connect Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Once completed, Panguil Bay bridge will become the longest water-spanning completed bridge in the country — surpassing even the San Juanico Bridge (2.16km completed in 1973, which connects the islands of Samar and Leyte in eastern Philippines). Status: Work in progress.

DAVAO-SAMAL BRIDGE | Length: 3.98 km | Cost: 19.32 billion pesos ($400 million) | Construction started: Unclear (slated for 2021) | Completion date: 2023 | This bridge will cross Pakiputan Strait to connect Davao City and Samal Island. It is listed at Item 42 in DPWH’s "Build, Build, Build" program. In October 2020, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that the bridge “remains to be an elusive dream”. Construction has been stalled by a conflict between project proponents and resort owners over environmental impact concerns. On April 26, 2021, the Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) submitted an updated loan application reflecting the revised financing ratio of 90% loan and 10% local fund to China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank). Status: The loan agreement is expected to be finalised between the two countries by Q3, according to a senior DPWH official.

CEBU-CORDOVA LINK EXPRESSWAY | Length: 8.5 km | Cost: 30 billion pesos ($615.5 million) | Date started: April 2016 | Completion date: Q4 2021 | This is a toll bridge expressway under-construction in Metro Cebu, central Philippines which will link Cebu City and the municipality of Cordova. Status: Work in progress, 74.86% complete (as of May 27, 2021).

ILOILO-GUIMARAS-NEGROS-CEBU LINK BRIDGE | Length: 4km Phase I; 12km Phase II, 8km Phase III | Cost: 28.5 billion pesos ($584 million) | Construction started: 2019 (Phase 1) | Completion date: 2023/2024 (Phase 1) | It’s a network of bridges in the Visayas in central Philippines connecting the islands of Panay, Guimaras, Negros, and Cebu. In August 2020, Presidential Adviser on Flagship Programs and Projects Vivencio Dizon announced the Guimaras-Negros Bridge segment of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros mega bridge project has been “shelved” as the government struggles to find funds to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Status: Preparing final stages of feasibility study (as of Feb. 16, 2021).

BATAAN-CAVITE INTERLINK BRIDGE | Length: 32.15km | Cost: 175.7 billion pesos ($3.6 billion) | Construction started: November 2020 | Completion date: 2022 | Also known as the Manila Bay Bridge, it’s the longest bridge in the Philippines. The government’s NEDA Board approved the project in January 2020. The bridge aims to directly connect the provinces of Bataan and Cavite, across the Manila Bay, cut travel time between Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog from the usual five hours to only 20 to 30 minutes. Reclamation for the project is now being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Status: Engineering design awarded (as of April 26, 2021, via PNA).

SORSOGON-SAMAR LONG-SPAN BRIDGE | Length: 24km | Cost: > 300 billion pesos ($6.16 billion) | Construction started: Unknown | Completion date: 2026-2029 | This would would have been the first concrete connection between mainland Luzon and the Visayas. Given the huge funding requirement and six to nine years of the construction period, the project will not be realised under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Status: Shelved.

KALAYAAN BRIDGE | BGC-ORTIGAS CENTRE LINK ROAD PROJECT: Length: 362 metres | Cost: > 5.7 billion pesos ($117 million) | Construction started: xxx | Completion date: 2021 | The bridge forms part of the 1.367-kilometer BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project. The project cuts travel time between BGC and Ortigas Central Business District to 12 minutes. Status: opened on June 12, 2021.

BINONDO INTRAMUROS BRIGDE: Length: 680 metres | Cost: 3.39 billion pesos ($69.6 million) | Construction started: July 17, 2018 | Completion date: September 2021 | The BI (Binondo-Intramuros) Bridge Project, which connects Intramuros and Binondo via a span across the Pasig River, is nearing completion. The Department of Public Works and Highways targets to complete the construction later this year. Status: In progress.

ESTRELLA-PANTALEON BRIDGE (EXPANSION): Length: 676 metres | Cost: 303.65 million pesos ($6.2 million), first bridge completed in 2011; 1.46 billion pesos ($29.9 million), second bridge | Construction started (for 2nd): January 19, 2019 | Completion date: 2021 | This four-lane bridge linking Makati and Mandaluyong in Manila is on track for an opening date in the first half of 2021, according to PNA. Status: 92% complete, reopening July 2021.