P7.37b, 3.17-km span oversea bridge in Mindanao 69% done

THE P7.37 billion, 3.17-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge project of the government, the longest seacrossing span in Northern Mindanao is already 69 percent complete, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

In a statement, the DPWH said the project was expected to be 90 percent finished by December 2023, and scheduled to be formally opened by June 2024.

The bridge will connect Tangub City in Misamis Occidental to Tubod, Lanao del Norte, cutting travel time between the two provinces from two and a half hours to just seven minutes.

DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, chief of the DPWH infrastructure flagship projects under the “Build, Better, More” program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, said the bridge was designed to deliver lots of benefits to the local economy and convenience for businesses and the general public in Northern Mindanao.

“We are particularly excited about the upcoming completion of the Panguil Bay Bridge Project, which we believe marks a significant milestone for the whole Mindanao,” Sadain said.

This valuable infrastructure project will greatly enhance economic growth as it will serve as a vital gateway that connects and further strengthens the region’s infrastructure, providing seamless transportation of goods and services.

Although the design and build activities for the Panguil Bay Bridge Project were slowed down by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021, work resumed last year as the pandemic slowed down.

The project is funded by a loan agreement between the Philippines and South Korea.