Neda-6 clarifies inter-island Western Visayas bridge construction to start in 2025

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

ILOILO CITY — The National Economic and Development Authority in Western Visayas (Neda-6) on Thursday denied media reports on the construction timetable of the ₱189.53-billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) bridge.

The NEDA-6, in a press release, said that it sought to clarify news reports carried by several media outlets on the supposed start of the bridge construction.

Local media in Iloilo City has reported that the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) component is set to be awarded to a winning bidder in March, citing NEDA-6 Regional Director Arecio Casing Jr.’s February 16 interview with state-run Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo.

“[During] our meeting, we were informed that we would be awarding the [DED] component in March,” Casing said in his interview.

The NEDA-6 expressly stated that construction will start in 2025 after the scheduled completion of the Detailed Engineering Design (DED), and its subsequent approval for the funding and actual implementation of the project by the NEDA Board and the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC).

According to them, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the project’s implementing agency, has started the bidding process this February with the submission and receipt of proposals, with the Notice to Proceed to be issued this May, and the process is set to last for 18 months.

The PGN bridge, a priority project of the previous Duterte administration’s Build Build Build program, is expected to span a total of 32.47 kilometers with two sections, Section A from Panay to Guimaras (13 kms), and Section B from Guimaras to Negros (19.47 kms).

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