Malapit nang umarangkada ang dalawang flagship projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), ang Bataan-Cavite at Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge, ayon kay DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
Sa pagdinig ng proposed 2024 National Expendeture Program ng DPWH, sinabi ni Bonoan na halos tapos na ang engineering design details ng tulay na magdurugtong sa Naic, Cavite patungong Mariveles, Bataan samantalang kailangang i-rebid ang consultancy services ng engineering design details ng Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge.
“For the Bataan Interlink Bridge, the detail engineering design is almost complete, Your Honor. For Panay-Guimaras, the detail engineering design, unfortunately, is going to be rebid. The consultancy services for the detail engineering design. But, we are very confident that we will be able to award by December this year. And so that the detail engineering design will probably commence by early next year,” tugon ni Bonoan sa naging pangungumusta ni dating DPWH Secretary, Senator Mark Villar.
“Again, for the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, your Honor, we will be presenting this bridge project to the NEDA Board by Friday for their confirmation on the adjustment of the schedules. Again, this is going to be financed by the Asian Development Bank. I think after the NEDA Board, and we will start to negotiate for the loan agreements for the financing of this bridge project. And we hope that we can start bidding part of this, the contract for the first quarter of next year, your Honor,” dagdag pa ni Bonoan.
Samantala, sa 2025 ay inaasahang masisimulan ang paggawa ng Panay-Guimaras Bridge kapag natapos at naaprubahan ang engineering design details ng naturang tulay.
Matatandaang ang dalawang ito ang pangunahing proyekto noon ng dating administrasyong Rodrigo Duterte, sa ilalim ng Build, Build, Build Program na naglalayong pagdugtungin ang mga isla ng Pilipinas para sa mas mabilis na galaw ng tao, produkto at serbisyo, na maghahatid naman ng kaunlaran sa mga lugar na pinagdurugtong ng naturang inter-island bridges.