TACLOBAN CITY, March 7 (PNA) -- The government
needs at least PHP193.58 billion to build cable-stayed long span bridges that
will link Leyte Island to Mindanao and Samar Island to Luzon.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
came up with project cost as they seek endorsement of the five-year mega
projects from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for the
kick-off of the feasibility study.
The study will be done by Chinese experts through
funding grants from Chinese government, said Ernesto Octaviano, chief of NEDA
regional office project development investment programming and budgeting
division.
"After the approval of technical assistance,
the study will run for six months and hopefully construction will start early
next year," Octaviano said.
The official is optimistic that budget for the
study will be included in the availment of Chinese government financing in
accordance with the 2016 Philippine-China Development Framework of Cooperation.
Of the PHP193.58 billion budget, PHP101.35 billion
is intended for Leyte-Surigao Link Bridge Project and PHP92.23 billion for
Luzon-Samar Bridge Project.
The two projects along with Panay-Negros-Guimaras
Link Bridge are listed as priority under the "Nationwide Island Provinces
Link Bridges for Sustained Economic Growth Development."
The Leyte-Surigao project involves the construction
of cable-stayed bridges with a length of 23 kilometers connecting San Ricardo,
Southern Leyte and Lipata in Surigao City, crossing the Surigao Strait.
The Sorsogon-Samar project has a combined length of
25.4 kilometers. It consists of three long span bridges – Allen to San Antonio
in Northern Samar (4.9 kilometers), San Antonio to Capul in Northern Samar (8.5
kilometers), and Capul, Northern Samar to Matnog, Sorsogon (12 kilometers).
Both projects are four-lane cable-stayed bridges, a
permanent solution to the perennial problem of stranding during weather
disturbances and port congestion during peak season.
A cable-stayed bridge has one or more towers, from
which cables support the bridge deck.
Distinctive features are the cables,
which run directly from the tower to the deck, normally forming a fan-like
pattern or a series of parallel lines.
The Regional Development Council executive
committee approved the resolution by referendum this week.
The project is expected to bring more economic
opportunities between the country’s three island groups – Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao.
For decades, roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ferries cross
the San Bernardino Strait, transporting passengers and vehicles to and from
Allen Port and Matnog Port in Sorsogon. With a distance 28 kilometers, the
average travel time is one hour and 30 minutes.
In the southern part of Leyte Island, RoRo ships
have been transporting passengers and vehicles to and from Benit Port in San
Ricardo town and Lipata Port in Surigao City, crossing Surigao Strait. The
distance between the two ports is 23 kilometers.
Buses, cars and trucks from various provinces of Mindanao
bound for Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon pass through Allen and San
Ricardo ports to get to Luzon. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO
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