Construction of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project, an ambitious P167.5 billion infrastructure initiative, is scheduled to commence in late 2025, heralding improved connectivity for the Western Visayas region. The project spans 33.086 kilometers and aims to facilitate seamless transportation across Panay, Guimaras, and Negros islands, boosting regional economic growth.
Announced by Sanny Boy Oropel, DPWH Director for Western Visayas, during a September 2024 press briefing, the project’s initial phase—linking Panay to Guimaras—entailed constructing a 13.616-kilometer bridge by mid-2028. The subsequent phase, involving a 19.470-kilometer connection to Negros, lacks a precise timeline but follows the first’s completion.
Expected to significantly enhance travel for residents and visitors alike, this infrastructure development is anticipated to elevate commerce and tourism among the interconnected provinces. Former Senator Franklin Drilon, a key advocate for securing initial funding, expressed mixed feelings over previous delays caused by design hurdles but remains optimistic about the project’s impact.
Funded by Korean Eximbank—the financier of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II—the project represents a significant investment in regional growth. Final engineering proposals for the Panay-Guimaras phase are slated for submission by December 2024. As Western Visayas braces for this transformative shift, the bridges are poised to become crucial arteries in bolstering local economic aspirations and ensuring sustainable connectivity.
