ILOILO City – Since its mention in the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in July, how has the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project in Western Visayas progressed so far?
On Sept. 27, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan sent a response letter to Mayor Jerry Treñas after the latter wrote requesting updates on the project’s detailed engineering design (DED).
The DPWH’s letter focused on the DED’s consulting services under the Economic Development Co-operation Fund (EDCF) Loan Agreement No. PHL-23.
“First of all, we would like to express our gratitude for your continued support in this valuable undertaking of the department, which desires to put into reality the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project,” read part of Bonoan’s letter.
The DPWD secretary disclosed that “the procurement of consulting services for the detailed engineering design and tender assistance of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project was declared a ‘failure of bidding’ dated Sept. 14, 2023.
The bid price substantially exceeded the loan proceeds portion and the DPWH’s approved estimated project cost.
Consequently, the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) concurred with the failure of the bidding and rebidding of the services.
“We understand the importance and urgency of this project in Region 6 as it promises to revolutionize transportation and connectivity between the three islands, and we remain committed to its successful completion,” said Bonoan.
Therefore, through the pre-procurement conference, the immediate rebidding of the said consulting services commenced on Sept. 15.
Likewise, the Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) was advertised on Sept. 19, with the submission of pre-qualification documents scheduled for Oct. 9.
The award of contract is scheduled for Dec. 15, 2023.
And the project is expected to commence through a Notice to Proceed for the DED on Dec. 27, 2023.
On his part, Treñas was thankful to hear from the department.
“I am glad to receive a response to the letter we sent on July 25 to request updates on the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridges Project. We are eager to see the commencement of this project on Dec. 27,” he said.
Perviously, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 6 director Arecio A. Casing Jr. said the procurement process for creating the DED is expected to be awarded in July 2023.
He explained that once the contract for the DED is awarded, the making of the DED will follow.
The making of the DED may take two years to complete, or around 2025. It will cover how the bridge will look, the program of works, the cost, detailed activities, a study to determine the exact geographic or starting point of the project, and the type of soil underwater.
During these two years, Casing expects that experts or engineers from the winning contractor will visit project sites to inspect and check water current and depth, among others.
Casing said the DED is very important because it will be included when the national government starts bidding for interested contractors for the project’s construction.
The DED will also determine the final amount, or contract cost, which will be used by the government to scout potential funders for this project.
“The DED is very important because this will be the basis for the procurement of the contractor. So, this DED will be packaged to be included in the procurement documents for bidding, wherein our government will bid this out, including the DED, to a contractor who’s willing to construct the bridge,” Casing added.
While the DED is also in the works, the national government will take this time to find potential funders for the bridges.
Casing could not provide a projection or estimate of the needed funds for constructing the mega project bridges, considering the current prices of materials could still change in the coming years.
In the project’s timeline, the construction is estimated to begin in 2025 and is targeted for completion by 2030.
“It is targeted to start within the term of our current president; he may not reach its completion, but it is assured that it will start during his term,” said Casing.
The PGN has two components:
* 13-kilometer Panay-Guimaras bridge, or Section A
* 19.47-kilometer Guimaras-Negros bridge, or Section B
The Panay-Guimaras bridge will have a sea-crossing bridge length of 4.97 kilometers, while the Guimaras-Negros bridge has 13.11 kilometers of sea-crossing bridge length./PN
