Friendship bridges in 3 Visayas regions hailed

THE concept paper for the establishment of at least six bridges that will link all of the islands of the Visayas was well received by the governors in the three regions.

The governors of the three regions in the Visayas met last August 30 to discuss about the concept paper for endorsement to the national government so that it can be declared as a priority project.

According to the concept paper prepared by Japanese consulting firm, Pacific Consultants Inc., the Trans-Visayas Friendship Bridges will connect the provinces of Bohol and Cebu, Cebu with Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental with Iloilo and Iloilo with Guimaras.

Under the same proposal, there will be two bridges that will connect the provinces of Bohol and Southern Leyte.

“PCI has done the concept paper on the bridges project and is conducting the pre-feasibility study pro bono,” LPP president, Gov. Erico B. Aumentado said.

During the meeting hosted by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon, the governors of the three regions approved unanimously a resolution endorsing the concept paper for the Trans-Visayas Friendship Bridge Project, which will virtually interconnect the entire region.

At the same time, the governors approved the proposal of the Province of Negros Occidental to locate the bridge connecting the province to Panay Island in Tomonton Point in E.B Magalona, Negros Island to San Juan Pt., Banate, Iloilo to shorten the length of the viaduct.

In order to see this ambitious project to its fruition, the Visayas governors also agreed to the proposal of Oriental Negros Gov. George Arnaiz for the provinces in the region to put up a collective counterpart equivalent to 50 percent of the cost to undertake a feasibility study for the project.

The other 50 percent will be sourced from the funds of the national government.

The DPWH estimated the cost of the feasibility study at P128 million.

Governors Salvacion Z. Perez and Orlando Fua Sr. of Antique and Siquijor, respectively, said they would also be contributing for the counterpart funds because their provinces will still be benefiting from the project in the long term.

Aumentado said the realization of the project would not only hasten the transportation of people, tourists and cargo between the three regions, but will also bring down the cost of production of local goods and the cost of transmitting power and electricity between and among the provinces. (AJS)

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