TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) –It is a bridge, too far.
The multi-million approaches of the Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector (PTCOBC) project may be completed now, but the 2.6 kilometer main bridge still needs funding.
That is the construction project happening at Pook Pantalan in and the other construction from the other end of the bridge: at the Dauis side.
In fact, the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC-CV) is still awaiting for the review, appraisal and approval of the funding for the PTCOBC project as proposed for a grant from China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).
CIDCA is reportedly facilitating for the procurement of consultancy services to undertake the conduct of an updated feasibility study (FS) for the project, according to the recent project brief shared during the latest RDC here in Bohol.
With still the uncertainty of funding for the main bridge, the RDC through Bohol Vice-Governor Dioniso Victor A. Balite has requested the endorsement of the Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) to explore the possibility of additional international fund sources for the PTCOBC project.
It may be recalled that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) put in the PTCOBC as part of the RDC –CV Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) which as duly endorsed by the RDC to the NEDA Board-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC).
The NEDA ICC approved the P 6.955 Billion project on January 29, 2022.
This entails the construction of a 2.6-kilometer bridge as an alternative route to the existing Jacinto Borja Bridge and Ambassador Suarez Bridge.
It aims to improve inter-modal transport in Metro Tagbilaran by directly linking the New Bohol Airport to the Tagbilaran Seaport; to facilitate movement of goods, services, and people, especially local and international tourists, and should decongest traffic in the central business district by providing a new bypass access and diverting vehicular movements to, and from Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City.
The bridge is responsive to the Expand and Upgrade Infrastructure chapter of the Central Visayas Regional Development Plan (RDP) for 2023-2028, and once completed, it will significantly reduce travel time between the Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Tagbilaran Seaport.
The bridge approaches and the resettlement component were funded from local funds under the budget of DPWH, with appropriations of P 333.52 million, P193 million, and P 100 million in the FYs 2018, 2019, and 2023 national budget, respectively.
To date, the bridge approach at the Municipality of Dauis and Tagbilaran City are substantially complete.
However, the fund source for the main bridge construction is still unclear.
As of May 24, 2023, the RDC IDC asked the RDC secretariat updates on the project’s funding source.
By June 6, 2023, the NEDA Board-ICC told the IDC Secretariat that the main bridge would be funded through a grant from China, and that CIDCA is still facilitating the procurement of consultancy services to undertake the conduct of an updated feasibility study (FS) for the project.
Once this updated feasibility study result comes out, this would be submitted to the Chinese government for review, appraisal, and approval.
Seeing the hint of uncertainty, Bohol Vice-Governor Balite asked IDC endorsement to explore possible additional international fund sources for the project.
Seeing the merit of the vice governor’s concern, the IDC passed a resolution recommending that the RDC Full Council request the NEDA Board-ICC and the DPWH to explore other official development assistance as additional funding source for the construction of the main bridge of the PCOBC project. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
