ILOILO City – The long-anticipated Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Link Bridge project is moving closer to construction as 82 percent of its final detailed engineering design (DED) has been completed, with full submission to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) expected within the third quarter of 2025.
According to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Region 6 — formerly National Economic and Development Authority — civil works for Section A of the bridge, which will connect Panay and Guimaras, are set to commence by July 2026 once the design is approved by the NEDA Board.
The final DED will be submitted to the Economy and Development Council (formerly NEDA Board) by the third quarter.
According to DEPDev Region 6 director Engr. Arecio Casing Jr., the final DED is being prepared by Yooshin Engineering Corporation in joint venture with South Korean firms Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architects Co. Ltd., Dohwa Engineering Co. Ltd., Soosung Engineering Co. Ltd., and Dasan Consultants Co. Ltd.
The update came following the July 3 convening of the PGN Island Bridges Project-Regional Steering Committee (RSC), which reviewed progress and timelines for the multibillion-peso project. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Project Manager Engr. Erwin Aranas led the presentation of the DED’s current status and other key developments.
Casing stressed the importance of strictly adhering to the timeline to fully harness the bridge’s potential to boost economic activity, enhance connectivity, and reduce transportation time and cost between Panay, Guimaras, and Negros.
The following day, a team from the DPWH-Central Office Roads Management Cluster 1 paid a courtesy visit to Bago City Mayor Marina “Mayette” Javellana-Yao, presenting the project overview and requesting approval for the location of a field office in the city, where one side of the Guimaras-Negros section will be anchored.
The PGN Link Bridge, with an estimated cost of ₱189 billion, is one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings under the government’s “Build Better More” program. It comprises two major segments:
* Section A — 13 kilometers between Panay and Guimaras, including a 4.97-kilometer sea-crossing bridge.
* Section B — 19.47 kilometers between Guimaras and Negros, with a 13.11-kilometer sea-crossing bridge connecting to the Negros South Road through Bago City.
The project’s scale and engineering complexity, especially across marine environments, demand meticulous planning and strong inter-agency and LGU coordination, DEPDev said.
Once completed, the PGN Bridge is expected to transform inter-island connectivity and unlock regional economic development across Western Visayas./PN
