(UPDATES) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday led the inauguration of the 3.1-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge, the longest in Mindanao.
Construction of the P8.026 billion bridge started in February 2020. It was funded through a loan agreement between the government of the Philippines and the Korean Export-Import Bank (Korea Eximbank).
“It is just the beginning. We are building a Bagong Pilipinas, one where every Filipino, no matter how far, no matter how remote, is somehow connected,” Marcos said following the ribbon-cutting and marker unveiling ceremonies.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday, September 27, 2024. The bridge, which connects the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, is the longest in Mindanao. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday, September 27, 2024. The bridge, which connects the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, is the longest in Mindanao. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday, September 27, 2024. The bridge, which connects the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, is the longest in Mindanao. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday, September 27, 2024. The bridge, which connects the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, is the longest in Mindanao. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday, September 27, 2024. The bridge, which connects the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, is the longest in Mindanao. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday, September 27, 2024. The bridge, which connects the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, is the longest in Mindanao. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday, September 27, 2024. The bridge, which connects the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, is the longest in Mindanao. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of Panguil Bay Bridge on Friday, September 27, 2024. The bridge, which connects the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, is the longest in Mindanao. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
The Panguil Bay Bridge connects Misamis Occidental via Tangub City and Lanao del Norte via Tubud town. It cuts travel time going to and from said provinces from about 2 hours to 7 minutes.
“From the 1998 pre-feasibility study conducted on the bridge to the moment it broke ground in 2018, this bridge encountered very many challenges. When the pandemic hit — the DPWH had to pause, and had to recalibrate and revisit, and create techniques and strategies on how they could move forward with this project. And just when they thought they could continue the construction of the bridge, funding issues stopped it again and slowed it down again. But we can’t be deterred just like that,” the President said.
He thanked South Korea and Eximbank for helping the Philippine government finish one of its priority infrastructure flagship projects (IFP).
“I want to acknowledge our partners in the Korean government and the Korean EXIM Bank. Thank you very much. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in turning this dream into a reality,” Marcos said.
“And before lest anyone think that this project between the Republic of Korea, the Economic Development Cooperation Fund and through Eximbank of Korea is an isolated project, I would just like to show everyone how many EDCF [of Korea] projects are ongoing in the Philippines,” he added.
With the Panguil Bay Bridge now open, the President is confident local businesses, as well as tourism, will be boosted in this part of Mindanao.
The bridge, he said, 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.”
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