NORTHERN MINDANAO - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has announced that the Panguil Bay Bridge project, a significant infrastructure development in Northern Mindanao, has reached 89 percent completion. The project is a 3.17-kilometer inter-island bridge connecting Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, and Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
According to Philippines News Agency, who oversees DPWH infrastructure flagship projects, the bridge is anticipated to be completed within the year despite encountering funding challenges and recent delays due to adverse weather conditions in the region. Initially projected to open to vehicular traffic by June of last year, efforts are being intensified to recuperate lost time.
The Panguil Bay Bridge, initiated in February 2020, aims to significantly reduce travel time between the provinces of Northern and Central Mindanao and the Zamboanga Peninsula. By establishing a direct link, the project is expected to catalyze economic growth and enhance transportation connectivity in the area. Currently, the travel between Tangub City and Tubod involves a two-and-a-half-hour journey via Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo) services, including the time for loading and unloading. Once completed, the bridge will shorten this to a mere seven-minute drive, aligning with the objectives set out in the DPWH INFRAgenda 2028 Strategic Plan.
The bridge's construction is supported through a loan agreement between the governments of the Philippines and South Korea, facilitated by the Economic Development Cooperation Fund. This collaboration underscores the international support for the Philippines' ambitious infrastructure development goals. With the project's completion on the horizon, stakeholders remain optimistic about overcoming the remaining challenges and delivering a transformative infrastructure asset to the region.