Philippines: $3.4 billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge set

Construction is set to commence in 2025, marking the beginning of a new era of economic prosperity and seamless travel across these once-isolated islands."

The proposed PGN has two main components: Sections A and B.

This two-in-one marvel, spanning across the treacherous waters that separate these three islands is expected to further enhancing regional accessibility.

Construction will be a huge undertaking, requiring advanced engineering techniques and meticulous planning to overcome the challenges posed by the marine environment and the complex terrain of these islands.

The region's top official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Engineer Sanny Boy Oropel, said the feasibility study for the design and the detailed engineering has kicked off.

Legacy project

Oropel said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is keen on the project, and has instructed officials to complete the detailed engineering design of Section A by December 2024, instead of the end - 2025.

Consultants with extensive experience in long-span bridges assisted the DPWH in the preparations, according to Emil Kiram Sadain, Senior Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee has earlier approved the supplementary feasibility study report and engineering services for the project.

The bridge project, initially conceived in the early 2000s, has evolved from a concept to an advanced engineering plans that reflect the complexities and challenges of executing such a massive infrastructure project.

Challenges

The project poses a number of challenges: it is a large and complex endeavour requiring high-standard engineering work. One technical complexity involves significant engineering challenges due to the length and the geographical features of the islands.

Moreover, securing financing from international lenders and partners is critical to the project's timeline.

It must also address environmental concerns, and potential ecological impacts, including assessments and consultations with local communities.

Significance

Until now, the major islands in the Philippines are only linked by air and roll-on-roll-off ferries. The PGN links would give these Visayan islands, once a hotbed of communist rebellion, a strategic economic boost and greater relevance both on the national and global stage.

Its proximity to world-class tourist destinations, including Boracay, is just a bonus.

Manila is currently addressing bottlenecks that stalled development projects in the past, including financing, Customs facilitation and clearances as the country seeks to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2025.

This engineering feat that would, in effect, create land-transport-linked neighbouring islands with a total land area equivalent to the size of 34 Singapores.

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This engineering feat that would, in effect, create land-transport-linked neighbouring islands with a total land area equivalent to the size of 34 Singapores.

The three islands, Panay (12,011 km²), Negros (12,706 km²), and Guimaras (592 km², or about 60,547 hectares) continue to play vital roles in the Philippine economy, particularly in agriculture (sugarcane, rice, and mangoes), tourism, and as cultural and historical centers in the Visayas region.

Panay Island, particularly Iloilo City, has seen significant infrastructure development, including the expansion of the Iloilo International Airport.

In the post-pandemic recovery, the economies of Panay, Negros, and Guimaras, has soared. Sugarcane plantations abound in the agricultural areas of Negros, which also produces cotton and hardwood. Guimaras has developed a reputation for high-quality mangoes and tourism.

Fast facts about the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Link Bridge:

Project Name: Panay-Guimaras-Negros Link Bridge

Location: Western Visayas, Philippines

Purpose: To connect the islands of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros via a series of bridges, improving regional connectivity and economic development.

Total length: Approximately 32 kilometers (Panay-Guimaras: ~13 km, Guimaras-Negros: ~19 km)

Estimated cost: 189 billion pesos (around $3.7 billion)

Project status: Advanced planning and preparation stages (Second A by end-2024); construction expected to begin by 2025.

Economic impact: Expected to boost trade, tourism, and investment in the Western Visayas region by improving transportation links.

Regional connectivity: Aims to reduce travel time and logistics costs between the islands, fostering greater economic integration.

Job creation: The project is anticipated to generate thousands of jobs during the construction phase and stimulate economic activity in the surrounding areas.

Timeline

Feasibility Studies Completion: 2024 (Section A) /2025

Construction Start: 2025

Projected Completion: 2028 to early 2030s

Partners and Stakeholders

Lead Agency: Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

Involved Regions: Iloilo (Panay), Guimaras, Negros Occidental

Future Outlook

Economic Growth: The bridge is seen as a critical infrastructure project for boosting the local economy and improving the standard of living in the Western Visayas.

Tourism Development: Expected to enhance tourism by making the islands more accessible to domestic and international visitors.

Timeline

2000s: Initial discussions about connecting the islands through a series of bridges began, but no concrete plans were established during this time.

2011: The PGN Link Bridge was included in the National Economic and Development Authority's (NEDA) infrastructure development agenda, but it remained in the feasibility study stage.

2016: The project gained momentum under the Duterte administration, which prioritized infrastructure development under the "Build, Build, Build" program. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) began to seriously explore the feasibility of the bridge system.

2017: The project was formally included in the list of flagship infrastructure projects. Initial feasibility studies began, focusing on the technical and economic viability of connecting the three islands.

2020: Detailed engineering design and further feasibility studies were conducted. The project was divided into two main components: the Panay-Guimaras Bridge and the Guimaras-Negros Bridge, with the entire link spanning approximately 32 kilometers.

2021: The DPWH announced that the feasibility study had been completed, and the project was moving towards the procurement of contractors and funding arrangements. The total estimated cost was projected at around 189 billion pesos ($3.4 billion).

2022: The project was included in the Marcos administration's infrastructure agenda. However, funding and technical challenges, including the need for international financing and expertise, delayed the groundbreaking.

2023: The Philippine government, with assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other international partners, continued preparations for the bridge's construction. Pre-construction activities, such as environmental assessments and community consultations, were intensified.

Mid-2023: The DPWH revealed updated plans and timelines, aiming to start construction within the next few years. The project remained in the advanced planning and preparation stages, with ongoing efforts to secure final approvals and financing.

Late 2023: The Philippine government aimed to finalise the funding arrangements. The bridge is seen as a critical component of the country's economic recovery and regional development strategy.

2024-2025: Expected commencement of construction, with the Panay-Guimaras segment likely to be the first to begin. The project is anticipated to take several years to complete, with potential operationalisation in the early 2030s.

2028/2030: Target PGN Link Bridge project completion (both sections).