Manila: Anticipation is building up as the Panguil Bay Bridge is nearing completion in Mindanao.
With construction progress nearing 90 per cent, residents and visitors eagerly await the 3.77-km bridge that will seamlessly connect Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental provinces, enhancing travel across Mindanao.
Work, initiated on February 28, 2020, has been hit by pandemic and weather-related delays, alongside funding gaps. Now, with buiding at full speed ahead, the bridge could set another milestone before the year is out.
According to a February 2024 report of the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the under-construction 3.77 km (2.34 miiles) bridge promises a smoother travel and faster link between two provinces (Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental), and the whole of Mindanao.
The $114-million link will connect the towns of Tangub, in Misamis Occidental province and Tubod, in Lanao del Norte Province. Construction broke ground on November 27, 2018, briefly stalled during the pandemic.
Length: 3.77 km (2.34 mi)
Location: Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte
Cost: 6.4 billion pesos ($114 milion, 2020 estimate)
Construction started: February 28, 2020
Completion expected: By end-2024
Description: The main bridge (extra-dosed type) is 320 meters long, with 1,920-meter-long approach bridge made of pre-stressed concrete girders, and an approach road
Key milestone
The completion of the Panguil Bay Bridge Project will mark a key milestone in Mindanao's infrastructure development.
This engineering marvel will significantly reduce travel time, boost economic growth, and enhance transportation links between provinces of Northern and Central Mindanao, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
In line with the DPWH INFRAgenda 2028 Strategic Plan, the design and build of the bridge is targeted to cut inter-island connectivity between Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, and Tubod, Lanao del Norte to seven (7) minutes.
Currently, connectivity is through Roll-On, Roll-Off (RoRo) vessel, which entail a travel time of about two (2) hours to two-and-a-half (2.5) hours, including loading and unloading time.
Segment closure
Based on the latest DPWH report, the main bridge is undergoing its crucial segment closure at pylons 1 and 2, while the approach roads are also seeing progress.
When it opens, a new era of seamless inter-island transportation is expected to bring communities together and opening doors to more business and tourism possibilities.
We are optimistic that the implementing office Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster II, together with the contractors and consultants, will be able make up for the unprecedented delays brought by absence of sufficient funding and bad weather conditions in Mindanao the last several days to finish the Panguil Bay Bridge Project in a few months from now
Civil works
The project has faced unprecedented delays due to bad weather and funding gaps. Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in-charge of DPWH infrastructure flagship projects, said that civil works for the 3.17-km link is targetted to finish “this 2024”.
In a recent inspection by the official, he noted significant progress has been made.
“We are optimistic that the implementing office Unified Project Management Office (UPMO)-Roads Management Cluster II (Multilateral), together with the contractors and consultants, will be able make up for the unprecedented delays brought by absence of sufficient funding and bad weather conditions in Mindanao the last several days to finish the Panguil Bay Bridge Project in a few months from now,” Sadain reported to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan.
DPWH is confident about its ability to deliver the Panguil Bay Bridge Project’s completion.
The design and build contractor, South Korea’s Namkwang Engineering & Construction Corp, has a joint venture with Kukdong Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. and Gumgwang Construction Co., Ltd.
Their teams work alongside project consultant Yooshin Engineering Corp, Pyunghwa Engineering Consultants Ltd. and Kyong-Ho Engineering & Architects Co., Ltd.
