Longest Bridge in Mindanao is now open!

 

THE STORY BEHIND THE BEFORE IT FINISHES LINE

Top officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), alongside local leaders from Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte, held on July 4, 2024, the final concrete pouring ceremony between the two (2) extra-dosed main bridge of the Panguil Bay Bridge Project (PBBP).

This significant event saw the participation of DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan; Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain; DPWH Undersecretaries Eugenio R. Pipo Jr. and Carlos G. Mutuc; Assistant Secretary Rey Peter Gille; Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal Sr.; Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo; Ozamis City Mayor Henry “Indy” F. Oaminal Jr.; Korea Export Import Bank (KEXIM) Deputy Country Director Yun Hak Lee; Project Directors Teresita V. Bauzon, Soledad R. Florencio, Benjamin A. Bautista, Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes, and Najib D. Dilangalen; DPWH Regional Office 10 Director Zenaida Tan; Stakeholders Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario; and other public works and locals officials and staff.

The topping-off ceremony marked the completion of the bridge’s pre-stressed concrete box girder between pylon 1 in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, and tower 2 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, signifying a crucial milestone for the project.

Secretary Bonoan highlighted the importance of this milestone, stating that it brings the vision of a fully connected Panguil Bay Bridge closer to reality, promising numerous possibilities for the nation.

In his opening remarks, Senior Undersecretary Sadain praised the final construction stage as a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved, heralding a new era of connectivity and economic growth for Mindanao and the entire Philippines.

The Panguil Bay Bridge, soon to be the longest bridge in Mindanao at 3.169 kilometers, includes a 320-meter extra-dosed main bridge, a 1,920-meter pre-stressed concrete girder approach bridge, and a 929-meter road.

The bridge is expected to catalyze economic activities, improve quality of life, and open new opportunities for trade, tourism, and investment, significantly benefiting local communities and contributing to national development.

The project is implemented by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations under supervision of Senior Undersecretary Sadain and more specifically by the Roads Management Cluster II (Multilateral) led by former Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim and now headed by OIC Project Director Bauzon.

It was funded by a loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea through the Korea Export-Import Bank Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KEDCF) under Loan Agreement No. PHL-18, the Panguil Bay Bridge stands as a beacon of international cooperation and shared progress.

Despite commencing civil works at the height of the pandemic and facing significant challenges in weather conditions, material supply, and health restrictions, the DPWH relentlessly pushed the design and build contractor, Namkwang Engineering & Construction Corporation, in joint venture with Kukdong Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. and Gumgwang Construction Co., Ltd., along with the project consultant, Yooshin Engineering Corporation, in joint venture with Pyunghwa Engineering Consultants Ltd. and Kyong-Ho Engineering & Architects Co., Ltd., to exert their utmost effort to accelerate the construction activities of this infrastructure flagship project.

Costing ₱7.375 Billion, the project has an overall weighted accomplishment of 93.3 percent and targetted for completion within this third quarter of 2024.