BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) should listen and consider the position of the officials of the province’s fourth district in relation to the proposed linking islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros Occidental.
According to Lacson, the Provincial Development Council in December last year already came up with a resolution to consider other areas for the Guimaras-Negros segment of the bridge but the agency officials did not call on the provincial government to hear their side.
Lacson said since the area is within the jurisdiction of the fourth district, then their concern should be taken into consideration.
After the December PDC resolution, NEDA should have called on us and discussed the matter with us, Lacson pointed out.
Lacson said that they will touch base with NEDA to discuss the possibility of altering the design of the bridge.
The PDC has deferred the request of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to endorse the feasibility study for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge to the Regional Development Council.
Lacson pointed out they have decided not to endorse the request until all of the concerns forwarded by the council members were answered.
One of the concerns raised in the project was made by Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who has submitted a position paper to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Ferrer pointed out in his position paper that the Guimaras-Negros bridge segment should either be placed on the town of Valladolid or Bago City instead of Pulupandan.
Based on a project profile, the first segment of the bridge will connect Leganes, Iloilo to Buenavista, Guimaras; while second segment is expected to link San Lorenzo, Guimaras to Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.
As part of the construction preparations, the DPWH has already begun developing road sections in Guimaras.
The feasibility study was conducted by Chinese state-owned consultancy firm CCCC Highway Consultants Co. Ltd./PN
