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Philippines: 6.4-billion Mindanao bridge now nearly 90% complete, due this 2024

DPWH, contractors redouble efforts to complete $114m Panguil Bay Bridge project



The 6.4-billion-peso Panguil Bay Bridge in Mindanao will soon be the longest water-spanning bridge on the resource-rich island in southern Philippines.
Image Credit: DPWH

Manila: Anticipation is building up as the Panguil Bay Bridge is nearing completion in Mindanao.

With construction progress nearing 90 per cent, residents and visitors eagerly await the 3.77-km bridge that will seamlessly connect Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental provinces, enhancing travel across Mindanao.

The 3.77-km bridge that will seamlessly connect Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental provinces, enhancing travel across Mindanao.
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Work, initiated on February 28, 2020, has been hit by pandemic and weather-related delays, alongside funding gaps. Now, with buiding at full speed ahead, the bridge could set another milestone before the year is out.

According to a February 2024 report of the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the under-construction 3.77 km (2.34 miiles) bridge promises a smoother travel and faster link between two provinces (Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental), and the whole of Mindanao.

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As the main bridge undergoes its crucial segment closure at pylons 1 and 2, and as the approach road sees progress, there's a sense of heightened anticipation among the residents of the two provinces – as well as visitors.
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The $114-million link will connect the towns of Tangub, in Misamis Occidental province and Tubod, in Lanao del Norte Province. Construction broke ground on November 27, 2018, briefly stalled during the pandemic.

BRIDGE BUILDING
Name: Panguil Bay Bridge

Length: 3.77 km (2.34 mi)

Location: Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte

Cost: 6.4 billion pesos ($114 milion, 2020 estimate)

Construction started: February 28, 2020

Completion expected: By end-2024

Description: The main bridge (extra-dosed type) is 320 meters long, with 1,920-meter-long approach bridge made of pre-stressed concrete girders, and an approach road

Key milestone

The completion of the Panguil Bay Bridge Project will mark a key milestone in Mindanao's infrastructure development.

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This engineering marvel will significantly reduce travel time, boost economic growth, and enhance transportation links between provinces of Northern and Central Mindanao, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Panguil Bay Bridge Project consists of the main bridge (extra-dosed type) 320 meters long, a 1,920-meter-long approach bridge made of pre-stressed concrete girders, and an approach road.
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In line with the DPWH INFRAgenda 2028 Strategic Plan, the design and build of the bridge is targeted to cut inter-island connectivity between Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, and Tubod, Lanao del Norte to seven (7) minutes.

Currently, connectivity is through Roll-On, Roll-Off (RoRo) vessel, which entail a travel time of about two (2) hours to two-and-a-half (2.5) hours, including loading and unloading time.

Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in-charge of infrastructure flagship projects of the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said that civil works for the 3.17-km link is targetted to finish “this 2024”.
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Segment closure

Based on the latest DPWH report, the main bridge is undergoing its crucial segment closure at pylons 1 and 2, while the approach roads are also seeing progress.

When it opens, a new era of seamless inter-island transportation is expected to bring communities together and opening doors to more business and tourism possibilities.

With the segment closure of the main bridge at pylons 1 and 2 and the corresponding approach road underway, the people of Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental, and northern Mindanao, can look forward to easier access and enhanced connectivity with the dawn of a new era in inter-island transportation.
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We are optimistic that the implementing office Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster II, together with the contractors and consultants, will be able make up for the unprecedented delays brought by absence of sufficient funding and bad weather conditions in Mindanao the last several days to finish the Panguil Bay Bridge Project in a few months from now

- Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, DPWH

Civil works

The project has faced unprecedented delays due to bad weather and funding gaps. Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in-charge of DPWH infrastructure flagship projects, said that civil works for the 3.17-km link is targetted to finish “this 2024”.

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In a recent inspection by the official, he noted significant progress has been made.

There's a sense of heightened anticipation among the residents and visitors of the two provinces that will be connected by Panguil Bay Bridge in Mindanao, now 89 per cent complete
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“We are optimistic that the implementing office Unified Project Management Office (UPMO)-Roads Management Cluster II (Multilateral), together with the contractors and consultants, will be able make up for the unprecedented delays brought by absence of sufficient funding and bad weather conditions in Mindanao the last several days to finish the Panguil Bay Bridge Project in a few months from now,” Sadain reported to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan.

Deck barges are used to move several hundreds of tonnes of equipment like cranes and excavators in addition to materials like concrete and steel. They are also used for storing and transporting large prefabricated bridge section.
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DPWH is confident about its ability to deliver the Panguil Bay Bridge Project’s completion.

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The design and build contractor, South Korea’s Namkwang Engineering & Construction Corp, has a joint venture with Kukdong Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. and Gumgwang Construction Co., Ltd.

Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in-charge of DPWH infrastructure flagship projects, leads inspections of the under-construction bridge. Also present are UPMO Project Directors Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim and Benjamin A. Bautista, and Project Managers Teresita V. Bauzon and Marlon V. Galerio. Once the Panguil Bay Bridge is completed, residents and visitors of Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental can look forward to easier access and enhanced connectivity with the dawn of a new era in inter-island transportation.
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Their teams work alongside project consultant Yooshin Engineering Corp, Pyunghwa Engineering Consultants Ltd. and Kyong-Ho Engineering & Architects Co., Ltd.

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