Bridges linking Panay, Guimaras and Negros

[timrev]

Legislators press for construction of bridges linking Panay, Guimaras and Negros

Legislators press for construction of bridges linking Panay, Guimaras and Negros
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer Visayas 4:25 pm | Saturday, March 24th, 2012

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Crossing party lines, 19 Visayas congressmen have asked President Benigno Aquino to prioritize the construction of a network of bridges linking the islands of Panay, Negros and Guimaras.

In a joint resolution, the legislators called on Aquino, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the National Economic Development Authority to prioritize the construction of the bridges in the government’s PPP program.

“The construction of trans-link bridges will open new economic opportunities, reduce transportation and business transaction costs, increase access to social services and boost tourism in the entire Western Visayas region,” according to the resolution.

The resolution was initiated by Iloilo City Representative Jerry Treñas and was signed by 19 of the 21 legislators from Western Visayas and Negros Oriental.

House Resolution No. 2018 was read on Januray 16 and was referred to the House committee on public works and highways.

There have been various proposals and studies to construct the bridges over the years but none has led to an actual project because of the high estimated cost.

A study undertaken by Japan International Cooperation Agency in 1999 pegged the cost of the project at P53.661 billion with a total span of 23.19 kilometers. This includes P14.173 billion for the construction of the 2.59-km Panay-Guimaras bridge and P39.488 billion for a 20.6-km bridge linking Guimaras and Negros islands.

A DPWH study in 2010 estimated the project to cost P28.496 billion spanning a total of 13.16 kilometers. This includes 3.6 kilometers for the Panay-Guimaras bridge at P9.438 billion and a 9.56-km bridge to connect Guimaras and Negros costing P19.08 billion.

The 13.16-kilometer span is the shortest among the target areas for bridge construction. Based on this projected length, a bridge will be constructed to connect Leganes town in Iloilo to Buenavista town in Guimaras. Another bridge will link San Lorenzo town in Guimaras to Pulupandan town in Negros Occidental.

Treñas said that the projected cost in the DPWH study “makes the dream more realizable.”

The Visayan legislators said in the resolution that including the project under the PPP was an integral part of the President’s socio-economic program. They said that infrastructure and economic development projects should also be implemented beyond the Philippine capital.

“The National Capital Region receives the lion’s share of the national budget despite the Visayas islands having a population greater that of Metro Manila based on the latest National Statistics Office census,” they said in the resolution.

They said the archipelagic nature of the country “requires the development of a unified well-integrated economy which allows people and goods to be transported swiftly and efficiently.”

Treñas said they hoped that the national government could release funds for a comprehensive feasibility study that would pave the way for the approval and implementation of the project.

If the project is pursued, this would rapidly advance tourism, economic development and interaction between the three islands and the Visayas, he said.

“We hope that at least one of the bridges can be constructed within the term of President Aquino,” Treñas said.

Aside from Treñas, those who signed the resolution were Representatives Janette Garin (Iloilo), Augusto Syjuco (Iloilo), Arthur Defensor Jr.(Iloilo), Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo), Niel Tupas Jr. (Iloilo), Florencio Miraflores (Aklan), Paolo Javier (Antique), Antonio Del Rosario (Capiz), Jane Castro (Capiz), JC Rahman Nava (Guimaras),

Anthony Rolando Golez Jr. (Negros Occidental), Aflredo Marañon III (Negros Occidental), Alfredo Benitez (Negros Occidental), Jeffrey Ferrer (Negros Occidental), Mercedes Alvarez (Negros Occidental), Jocelyn Limkaichong (Negros Oriental), George Arnaiz (Negros Oriental) and Pryde Henry Teves (Negros Oriental).
Legislators press for construction of bridges linking Panay, Guimaras and Negros | Inquirer News

[fourtheboys96]

bakit kaya ang laki ng discrepancy ng estimate ng JICA at DPWH sa length ng bridge?

JICA - 20km
DPWH - 13km

Baka ibinulsa ng DPWH yung 7km LOL

[SiRbossR]

Much better pa talaga if they put a bridge between somewhere near Dumangas port to Bacolod city. Total, sea is calm naman on that place and also, it's a 1hr sail from dumangas port to bacolod city.

[robot.sonic]

baka sa dpwh na design ay straight at connect sa pinakamalapit na lupa.

[vinj]

bakit kaya ang laki ng discrepancy ng estimate ng JICA at DPWH sa length ng bridge?

JICA - 20km
DPWH - 13km

Baka ibinulsa ng DPWH yung 7km LOL

Yung sa DPWH kasi, kelangan dumaan malapit sa bayan ng mga officials para tumaas value ng lupa nila.

[lowslowbenz]

If you ask me ... I'd rather they connect Negros with Cebu. Like an east meets west thing... Much, much better for the economy of the region.

[rollyic]

If you ask me ... I'd rather they connect Negros with Cebu. Like an east meets west thing... Much, much better for the economy of the region.

kamusta naman po kaya ang lalim ng dagat?
baka mas mahaba pa yung poste kesa sa haba ng tulay :D

[vinj]

^On linking Negros to Cebu, this is quite feasible since Cebu is the center of commerce for the Visayas. Where would they link this? Near Dumagete which is the shortest span?

Linking Panay and Negros i guess would help drive up the economy of forgotten areas like Antique. On linking Guimaras to Iloilo, i've heard of this for quite some time already (usap-usapan).

[timrev]

Bohol-Cebu bridge proposal endorsement urged
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines (PNA) — Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol), proponent of a project that would build a bridge connecting Bohol to Cebu is urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to endorse such proposal for technical assistance from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (Koica).
Aumentado points out that aside from easier land travel to Cebu from Bohol, additional power supply from Cebu’s coal-fired power plant and even advanced telecommunications technology can reach Bohol through fiber optics passing through his proposed multibillion-peso Bohol-Cebu Friendship Bridge.
He also says that the project could accelerate the dispersal of industries from Cebu to Bohol, especially in the northeast corridor. Due to ample space in Bohol – a luxury, he says, urban Cebu does not have - the connection can be a solution to Cebu’s industrial congestion.
In his letter to DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, Aumentado said Singson’s predecessor in the agency had already endorsed the same to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and to the Koica deputy resident representative.
“The bridge can accelerate the symbiotic exchange of excess water from Bohol after satisfying its domestic needs while Cebu can send power, expected to be a surplus by 2015 because of the current development of coal-fired plants. Bohol is limited to developing hydroelectric power as other forms can be detrimental to its environment which is the anchor of its eco-cultural and adventure tourism,” Aumentado said.
These commodities can be transported through cables and pipelines astride the bridge, along with fiber optics from Cebu for Bohol’s information and communication technology program, the Bohol legislator said.
He explained that Koica provides official development assistance (ODA) from its government funds under the supervision of the Korea Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) called the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
The distance between Getafe in Bohol and Cordova in Cebu is only 17.5 kilometers. The two towns will be the anchors of the proposed bridge. Except for the Olango and Hilotongan Channels, the rest of the areas separating the two provinces are just islands, shoals and shallow seawaters.
This augurs well for a simple design and easy construction of the bridge, Aumentado said.
The Provincial Development Council (PDC) formerly chaired by Aumentado as Bohol governor had already endorsed the project through a reiterative resolution in 2009. Such original resolution was endorsed by the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC 7) chaired by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to the DPWH which, in turn, was requested for its own endorsement to the EDCF.
The technical assistance sought is for a grant for the conduct of a feasibility study and detailed engineering design (DED) for the future Bohol-Cebu Multi-Access Friendship Bridge.
Bohol-Cebu bridge proposal endorsement urged | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

[lowslowbenz]

^On linking Negros to Cebu, this is quite feasible since Cebu is the center of commerce for the Visayas. Where would they link this? Near Dumagete which is the shortest span?

The nearest points would be Sibulan town (Negros Oriental side) and Santander/Lilo-an (Cebu side).. Both points at present already have a ferry service.