Cagayan de Oro City — The Panguil Bay Bridge (PBB) has been identified by the Regional Development Council of Region 10 (RDC-X) as one of the priority development projects for implementation under the Medium Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP) 2005-2010.

Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos of Misamis Occidental, RDC-X Chairperson, during its 75th full council meeting, recently held in Cagayan de Oro City, said the PBB is included in the region’s list of major infrastructure projects of the MTPIP in its bid to become a major transshipment hub in the country.

“It’s not only because I am from Mis. Occ. that I really want the PBB to push through but I see it as a very good project to boost inter-regional trade as it will provide direct and indirect uninterrupted access from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities to Tangub and Ozamiz Cities through Tubod, Lanao del Norte,” he said.

The PBB will also link Zamboanga City to the various growth centers in the western part of Mindanao with the Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) Port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental to various airports and seaports in the island.

“As of now, people from my province and that of Zamboanga del Norte had to make do with the regulated trips of a roll-on roll-off ferry service that ply the Mukas, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte and Ozamiz City route. You are lucky enough if you get ahead in the long line of transport vehicles waiting to get on board, otherwise, you have to go the more circuitous way via Aurora, Zamboanga de Sur-Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte Road,” he said.

Ocampos said PBB’s estimated cost amounts to Php2.63B and involves the construction of a 260-meter main bridge with post-tensioned continuous box girder and a 2.1 km. approach viaducts with stressed girder type for a full-length of 2.4 km. and the construction of two (2) approach roads with a total length of 1.2 km. and a width of 11 meters.

It has also components of engineering services for detailed design and construction supervision, implementation of mangrove conservation along the vicinity of the bridge site and the acquisition of the road right of way (RROW).

Also included is the implementation of social infrastructure and livelihood programs to support local activities in the bay area communities.

Meanwhile, the government will pour up to Php30 billion into infrastructure and education projects in the second quarter of the year, Malacañang officials said, belying opposition charges that it is prioritizing spending for Pres. Arroyo’s initiative to amend the Constitution. (PIA-10)