BGC- Ortigas link project close to being bid out, DPWH says

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it is almost ready to proceed with the bidding process for the Sta. Monica Bridge, a link between Bonifacio Global City and Pasig intended to decongest Metro Manila’s main avenues.

“I am pleased to announce that the Department of Public Works and Highways is now ready to bid out and implement a road project that will connect Ortigas Center with Bonifacio Global City through a bridge that traverses Sta. Monica, Lawton (Avenue) in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), and Meralco Avenue in Pasig. This project should decongest EDSA and C-5, and provide an alternative route for motorists,” said Rolando G. Tungpalan, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary for Investment Programming, during a forum in BGC.

The construction of Sta. Monica bridge is one of the urgent measures to be undertaken by the government to help ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

It will pass over the Pasig River to connect the Ortigas business district to BGC and is expected to ease congestion along EDSA by 25%.

The Unified Project Management Office said that the bridge is still awaiting the approval of the Central Office Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH.

The go-signal for bidding that Mr. Tungpalan was referring to was approval from NEDA, but not from DPWH, according to Roads Management Cluster 1 ( RMC1) Engineer Enrico D. Tayag.

“[Regarding] NEDA requirements, we’re complete,” he said, but as for the DPWH approval, they are still pending, he said.

“(DPWH officials) don’t want to put it up for bidding just yet. We still have to address the right of way,” said Mr. Tayag, adding that the next key approval is by DPWH Undersecretary for Technical Service Raul C. Asis, Chairman of BAC for Consultancy Services.

Still pending, he said, is the relocation of informal settlers who will be affected by the project.

“[As for everything else], we’re already complete,” he said. —