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Friday, October 6, 2017
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ILOILO City – The Chinese government will finance the construction of bridges that would connect the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros.
According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges were among the 12 Philippine projects that the Chinese government identified for funding.
During a visit to Iloilo City in August, Public Works secretary Mark Villar expressed confidence that the project will be realized within President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.
“May five years pa si Presidente, definitely within his term. Pipilitin namin matapos by the end of the President’s term,” he said.
Last week, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III was in Beijing and met China’s commerce ministry officials. According to the Department of Finance, there had been “additional progress” in firming up projects that the Philippines pitching for financing.
Building bridges to connect Panay, Guimaras and Negros was proposed way back during the administration of then President Corazon Aquino but none of the administrations that succeeded hers managed to concretize the plan for lack of funds.
China’s Commerce Minister Zhong Shang said they wanted “substantial progress” by the time Premier Li Keqiang visits Manila in November” on the sidelines on the 31st Asean Summit.
It was unclear when the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges project would start. China wanted to prioritize eight of the 12 projects. These are the following:
- P4.6-billion Binondo-Intramuros bridge (Manila)
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P1.4-billion Estrella-Pantaleon bridge (Manila)
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P10.9-billion New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project
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P2.7-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in Cagayan and Kalinga provinces
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elevated expressway in Davao City
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construction of an industrial park
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two drug rehabilitation facilities
According to Villar in August, a team from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was coming over to start planning for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges.
Their output, including a technical study, would be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), according to Villar.
“Hopefully by next year magbigay kami ng full submission sa NEDA (and) ma-approve…Makapagsimula na hopefully by last quarter of next year,” Villar said.
Others that the Chinese government would finance are the reconstruction of Marawi under a 20-million-renminbi or $3-million donation in kind; provisions under the enforcement and security cooperation agreement between Manila and Beijing; and construction of an agriculture technical center./PN
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