Lanao Norte, Misamis Occ now linked by bridge

MILESTONE PublicWorks Secretary Manuel Bonoan says the completion of Panguil Bay Bridge is not only a construction milestone but also symbolizes the realization of a long-held dream of
communities in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental. —PHOTO COURTESY OF LANAO DEL NORTE PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE — At 11 a.m. on Thursday, the last concrete mix was poured to complete the full expanse of the Panguil Bay Bridge that connects this capital town of Lanao del Norte province and Tangub City in Misamis Occidental province.

The historic topping-off ceremony was witnessed by top officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte, and dignitaries from the South Korean government led by Korea Export-Import Bank deputy country director Yun Hak Lee, which funded the P7.375-billion project through a concessional loan.

The ceremony capped the 65th founding anniversary celebration of Lanao del Norte whose people, according to Gov. Imelda Dimaporo, had waited for over five decades for this moment to happen.

“This landmark is a testament not only to the dedication of past local chief executives but also to a committed generation of workers and public servants,” said Dimaporo, whose father conceived the project in 1970.

Dimaporo recalled that the late Gov. Arsenio Quibranza, during his time in office, first broached the idea of a bridge across Panguil Bay to Tangub City Mayor Alfonso Tan, who immediately supported it.

In the 1970s, crossing the bay from here to Tangub was through motorized outriggers or pump boats, and via wooden launches to Ozamiz City.

While the pump boat trips are still around, the launches had given way to roll-on, roll-off ferries plying between Ozamiz City and nearby Kolambugan town some 30 years ago. With increased vehicular traffic, there is a long waiting time for the ferries, which only takes 25 minutes to cross the bay.

The increased traffic across the bay sparked another wave of push for the bridge project in 2001 by Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo and Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos.

HISTORIC Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo on Thursday leads the pouring of the final batch of concrete mix during the topping-off ceremony for Panguil Bay Bridge, a project conceived in 1970 by her father, then Gov. Arsenio Quibranza. —PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

Lifeline

Governor Dimaporo said the completion of the bridge had always been a strategic development priority of Lanao del Norte hence, the provincial government helped finance the conduct of a feasibility study for the project. She lauded the strong support of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to have the project included in the government’s infrastructure priorities.

“July 4 marked the historic milestone for the people of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental,” said Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

“This event is not just a construction milestone, it [also] symbolizes the realization of a long-held dream of the communities in the two provinces,” he added.

“The PBB (Panguil Bay Bridge) is more than a structure of steel and concrete. It is a lifeline that connects the two provinces in Northern Mindanao, fostering unity and economic growth,” Bonoan further said.

He lauded the DPWH’s Unified Project Management Office, led by Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain, “for their relentless and untiring efforts” to keep the bridge construction within schedule.

The bridge, Sadain said, is expected to usher in a new era of connectivity and economic growth for Mindanao.

The remaining components being completed in the run-up to the expected opening next month are the approach road, bridge railings, asphalt overlay, lighting, and traffic control center.

Bonoan said the project “stands as a beacon of international cooperation and progress,” citing the significant role of the Korean Export-Import Bank in bankrolling the project through the South Korean government’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund.

READ: DPWH: Completion of P7.3-B Panguil Bay Bridge on track