Government Sets $1-B Bridge Connecting Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros-Cebu

$1-B bridge connecting 4 Visayas islands is set to be completed in President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

The bridge worth $1-B which aims to connect the four islands in the Visayas is expected to be completed within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press conference held at the Malacañan Palace on Thursday, Department of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros-Cebu Link Bridge is the “most ambitious bridge program in the history of our nation.”

After its completion, the Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros-Cebu Link Bridge project, Villar said is seen to replace San Juanico Bridge, which links Samar and Leyte, as the longest bridge in the country.

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According to the secretary, the length of the bridges that will connect Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros and Cebu, ranges from two to 10 kilometers.

“Once finished, you will be able to take a road trip to Iloilo and Cebu,” Villar said.

National Economic and Development Authority Director General Ernesto Pernia said the infrastructure projects, including the Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros-Cebu Link Bridge, were approved by the NEDA board in September. They have gone through the “eye of the needle” and are ready to be implemented by the concerned agencies in 2017.

Pernia added the projects are already in the state of bidding.

It is also expected to generate more jobs once the construction begins.

“The work regimen of 24 hours a day, seven days a week will hasten the construction of the infrastructure projects”, Pernia said.

Although he warned the public will expect inconvenience due to the works.

“Before the country can rise up and be world-class, there will be some inconvenience. If there is construction going on, it can cause inconvenience,” he added.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, meanwhile, said the infrastructure projects can address unemployment and traffic problems in the country.

“Infrastructure means connectivity and mobility, connectivity among local government units and mobility to go to one place to another,” he added.

Villar, Pernia, Tugade, and Bases Conversion and the Development Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Vivencio Dizon, held the press conference to bare the nine infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration, which will start construction next year.

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