The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is anticipating to begin the construction of the main bridge component of the Panglao – Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector (PTCOBC) Project by next year.
This was the update of DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan to Cong. Edgar Chatto through a letter received during the plenary deliberation of the agency’s proposed 2025 budget at the House of Representatives on September 24, 2024.
Bonoan confirmed that the DPWH has submitted the appropriate documentation to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) to seek government approvals for its proposal to finance the loan component of the PTCOBC through a French Official Development Assistance (ODA).
Currently, the ICC Secretariat is evaluating the submissions for deliberation in the ICC-Technical Board (ICC-TB), he stated.
Department of Finance Usec. Joven Balbosa also affirmed that an ODA agreement with France for the completion of this bridge project has been reached. This will replace the original China Grant that was withdrawn.
NEDA Sec. Arsenio Balisacan confirmed the receipt of the DPWH documents. He further assured that the ICC-TB review would be normally fast, following the timelines for each step of the process.
Meanwhile, P100 Million has been downloaded to the DPWH Regional Office this month for the construction of 2 additional spans of the approach bridge in the Tagbilaran City side of the project.
In addition, the DPWH has requested P207 Million in the 2025 national budget to cover the Philippine Government counterpart of the French ODA that is in the works for the main bridge component of the PTCOBC.
The completion of the bridge is targeted in 2029.
Chatto pushed for the third bridge as a priority infrastructure to ensure ease and convenience of travel between Panglao and Tagbilaran, especially with influx of tourists plying the airport to main island route. B