BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has started coordinating with her Bohol counterpart to advance a proposed bridge connecting the two Central Visayas provinces, despite near-impossible engineering and economic roadblocks that make the project highly unrealistic.
Baricuatro confirmed Wednesday that her administration is working with Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado to push forward the inter-island expressway project, which would link the two island provinces through a Public-Private Partnership scheme.
The governors view the bridge as a catalyst for economic growth and tourism development in both provinces, which are the only members of the Central Visayas region.
Baricuatro declined to provide a timeline for the project’s start or when feasibility studies would begin.
Coordination with national agencies remains ongoing, and the expressway bridge has been incorporated into both provinces’ development agendas.
Obstacles
The proposed bridge faces extraordinary technical and economic barriers that cast doubt on its viability.
The shortest route between the islands spans approximately 25 kilometers from Cordova, Cebu to Jetafe, Bohol, passing through Olango Island — roughly three times the length of the existing Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.
The Mactan-Olango channel presents the most formidable challenge, with depths ranging from 100 to 200 meters.
Construction would require foundations comparable to 60-story buildings capable of withstanding strong underwater currents and seasonal typhoons like Odette and Yolanda.
Engineers estimate the project would cost between P200 billion and P300 billion pesos, making it one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in Philippine history.
Economic Viability
Given the limited traffic demand between Cebu and Bohol, toll revenues may not justify the massive investment.
If the current Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway charges 100 pesos per vehicle, the proposed bridge might require tolls of P2,000 pesos per vehicle to generate sufficient revenue.
This pricing would make the bridge uncompetitive with existing ferry services, where economy fares to Tubigon cost only P275 pesos.
Fast craft and roll-on, roll-off ferries currently connect the islands efficiently in 1.5 to 2 hours, providing a practical and cost-effective alternative for passengers and cargo.
Infrastructure Priorities
The Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted a comprehensive study of Metro Cebu’s infrastructure needs in 2019, identifying urgent projects that could deliver more immediate benefits to the region.
Transportation experts suggest that expanding port facilities or introducing faster ferries would be far more cost-effective than constructing a fixed bridge.
The government could instead provide incentives to private companies investing in modern catamarans, similar to those manufactured in Balamban for export to Denmark and other countries.
Technical Requirements
The Mactan-Olango crossing would necessitate extremely tall pylons comparable to or exceeding those of Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, or alternatively, a subsea tunnel segment that would be even more costly.
This section alone could increase project costs by tens of billions of pesos, further undermining the bridge’s economic feasibility.
While the Cebu-Bohol bridge concept has captured public imagination, the combination of extreme engineering challenges, environmental concerns and prohibitive costs make it highly impractical under current conditions.
Transportation analysts conclude that improving existing ferry infrastructure remains a more realistic and cost-effective solution for enhancing connectivity between the two provinces.
Despite the project’s questionable viability, officials praised the governors for initiating public discussion about major infrastructure investments, allowing for scrutiny and exchange of ideas about regional development priorities.