ILOILO – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is optimistic that the South Korean government, through its Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank), will fund the Guimaras-Negros segment of the mega Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project.
The Korean government has only considered financing the 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras segment since the Guimaras-Negros bridge (Section B) is longer at 19.47 kilometers and requires a bigger fund.
According to DPWH secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, after the Korean government committed for the Iloilo-Guimaras bridge segment, they were given the “go signal” to proceed with the detailed engineering design (DED).
DPWH continues to look for investors for the Guimaras-Negros segment while still being hopeful that the South Korean government will fund both, he added.
“Hopefully they can arrange for the financing of the construction of that segment,” he said in an interview with DYSI Super Radyo Iloilo last Dec. 6.
Connecting the three islands – Guimaras, Panay and Negros Occidental – will be advantageous for the region in terms of public and goods transportation, said the DPWH Secretary.
Bonoan added that the DPWH wants the project to be simultaneously constructed for faster completion.
On Dec. 5 during the visit of Iloilo City’s Rep. Julienne Baronda and Iloilo 2nd District’s Rep. Michael Gorriceta, Bonoan disclosed that the department was incessantly working for the funding concerns of the PGN island bridges.
Last month, the National Economic and Development Authority in Region 6 expressed optimism that the PGN bridge’s construction will begin in two years’ time./PN
