• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Public Works and Highways is targeting to start the detailed engineering design (DED) activities for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges by next month.
According to DPWH, the engineering service of the 32.47-km. Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges is covered by a US56.6-million loan from the Korean government.
The scope of engineering services includes preliminary design covering a review of the feasibility study and preliminary and basic design; detailed engineering design including estimation of detailed construction cost; and procurement assistance.
Composed of two -sea-crossing bridges connecting the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros in Western Visayas Region, the PGN bridges project will shorten travel time of commuters and motorists, and the transport of goods among the aforementioned islands, which is presently through ferry/RORO services, from three to four hours to less than one hour.
The DPWH also disclosed yesterday that the Korean government has indicated interest in extending loans to finance at least four projects in Central Luzon and Central Visayas.
Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain, in-charge of DPWH infrastructure flagship projects under the “Build, Better, More” program, in a report to Secretary Manuel Bonoan, said the possible cooperation with the Korean government will be under the Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF).
He said the enhanced partnership was discussed during the meeting with the Korean fact-finding mission from the national headquarters of Export–Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) on May 10, at the DPWH main office in Port Area, Manila.
Sadain added the EDPF is a new Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan program of the Korean government that is eyed to cover financial gap for large-scale infrastructure projects.* with PNA report
