‘Dream come true’ as P8-B bridge spans Panguil Bay

LINKING MINDANAO President Marcos and first lady Liza Araneta Marcos on Friday inaugurate the 3.17-km Panguil Bay Bridge, which connects Tubod, Lanao del Norte, and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental. It can cut travel between the two points to just seven minutes from the usual two hours. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE—President Marcos led the inauguration of the 3.17-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday in what he describes as “a dream come true” for the people of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental provinces who have waited for it to become reality for over four decades.

The bridge is built at the cost of some P8 billion loaned by the Korean government’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) through the Korean Export-Import Bank. It employed cutting-edge Korean construction and engineering technology.

By reducing travel time between Tubod town in Lanao del Norte and Tangub City in Misamis Occidental from over two hours to just seven minutes, the bridge is expected to spur business growth in the northern and central Mindanao regions.

In his speech after inspecting the bridge, the President said the structure is “a gateway to a world where distance no longer limits dreams, where aspirations can take flight, and where the ambitions of entrepreneurs fuel growth and prosperity.”

“The bridge connects two provinces … But more than just a physical bridge, we are connecting the dreams and aspirations of the people of Lanao del Norte and of Misamis Occidental,” Mr. Marcos said, noting its expected “ripple effects” in Mindanao.

Connection

He cited the tale of Erlinda Mojica who used to transport her produce across the bay through a ferry plying between Kolambugan town in Lanao del Norte and Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental.

The ferry operates only until 9 p.m. and calls off trips during rough weather, hindering the transport of her goods.

“Now, they can transport their goods whenever they need, no time lost, according to their own schedules … With the opening of the bridge, she expressed her excitement, saying that her goods would now reach the market in minutes instead of hours, alleviating her worries about spoilage and missed sales,” Mr. Marcos said.

“Let us remember that the Panguil Bay Bridge is indeed the foundation on which we can build more bridges—bridges that connect not just places but also opportunities and communities,” he pointed out.

The President added: “Let us make this success a launchpad for further development to ensure that this project opens new doors to progress and prosperity.”

Joining the President in the inaugural were first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal, Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo and leaders of different sectors in both provinces.

HELP FROM KOREA President Marcos greets Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa as he unveils a marker of the Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday. This important infrastructure project in Mindanao was finished through the assistance of the Korean government. —RICHEL V. UMEL

‘Not easy’

Bonoan said the two-way, two-lane bridge, which is expected to cater to 10,000 vehicles a day, can withstand a magnitude 8 earthquake. It is currently off-limits to vehicles weighing more than 30 tons, hence a weighbridge is set up on both ends of the bridge to help regulate its load.

“For years, it was just a dream, something people would talk about, but never finally saw … It is undeniable that this journey has not been easy,” Mr. Marcos said.

With the inauguration on Friday, “the waiting has ended,” he added.

Prefeasibility studies on the bridge began in 1998 but the groundbreaking only kicked off in 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Department of Public Works and Highways to pause, recalibrate and revisit on how it can push through with the project, Mr. Marcos noted.

Construction finally began in February 2020 and was finished earlier this month as one of the government’s 198 priority infrastructure flagship projects.

The President thanked South Korea for supporting the Panguil Bay bridge project.

According to Mr. Marcos, there are 21 ongoing projects and two upcoming projects under the EDCF.

“Some of these are the biggest projects. That is how involved and how much the Economic Development Cooperation Fund has been part of all our development programs and all our aspirations for making our people live a much safer, much more efficient and much more helpful lifestyle,” he said.