Archimedes C. Lazaro & Peleta B. Abejo
NEDA-X and PIA-10
(February 6, 2014)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, 6 Feb 2014 (PIA) – Officials of the Regional Development Council of Northern Mindanao (RDC-X) and major stakeholders of the Panguil Bay Bridge (PBB) Project met with Secretary Rogelio L. Lingson of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on January 3, 20143 at the DPWH Central Office to facilitate funding and early implementation of the Panguil Bay Bridge (PBB) Project.

Secretary Singson expressed full support for the implementation of the PBB project within the term of the Aquino Administration in consonance with the government’s efforts on enhancing agriculture and tourism development in the region.

Latest developments include the completion of the new business case study with grant assistance from the Government of Korea. The civil works and approaches are proposed to be implemented through a combination of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Government of the Philippines (GOP) funding that shall include the acquisition of the road right-of-way.

With ODA funding, the DPWH can avail of foreign technology in constructing and designing bridges in relatively deep bays.

Once completed, it was suggested that the operation and maintenance of the bridge shall be managed by a private sector, which shall collect toll fees from the users through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme.

Approval of the PBB project by the NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee is targeted within the first half of 2014, so that the loan can be obtained by mid-2014, detailed engineering to start in the fourth quarter this year, and bridge construction to commence within 2015.

Costing P5.193 billion, this 3.6 kilometer two-lane bridge will connect the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and reduce travel time between the two places to only about seven minutes.

Panguil Bay Bridge is one of the priority projects in Northern Mindanao considered as one of the major strategic interventions particularly in providing access, logistics and infrastructure services toward the attainment of inclusive growth. Once completed, it will provide uninterrupted access from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities to Tangub, Oroquieta and Ozamiz cities and the rest of Zamboanga Peninsula. It will also enhance agricultural development and industrialization along the Cagayan-Iligan Corridor and the Tubod-Tangub-Ozamiz-Oroquieta growth areas.

Acting RDC-X Chair and NEDA-X Director Leon M. Dacanay, Jr. and RDC-X InfraCom Co-Chair, Engr. Modesto C. Babaylan were joined by Congressman Imelda Q. Dimaporo of the First District of Lanao del Norte and Mayor Nelieta Q. Noval of the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte (for Tubod-Lanao del Norte side); Congressman Henry S. Oaminal of the 2nd District of Misamis Occidental, Governor Herminia Ramiro of Misamis Occidental, Mayor Philip T. Tan of Tangub City, and Mayor Reynaldo O. Parojinog, Sr of Ozamiz City (for Tangub City-Misamis Occidental side).

The team also had a pre-meeting discussion focused on resolving road-right-of-way issues with Congressman Jorge T. Almonte of the 1st District of Misamis Occidental and Mayor Maria Luisa D. Romualdo of Mambajao, Camiguin, Chair of the RDC-X Macro & Development Administration Committee.

The RDC officials and Congressional representatives present strongly articulated and signified their commitment and support for the realization of the much-awaited bridge project.