The operation of the Bohol Panglao International Airport serves as the main push into proceeding with the third bridge to connect Tagbilaran City and Panglao Island.
During its full council meeting on December 14, the Regional Development Council (RDC)-7 approved the October 5 minutes where Engr. Nonito Paylado, DPWH planning division chief, explained that the proposed New Offshore Bridge Connector between Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City “is needed to address the projected increase in traffic volume once the Bohol Panglao International Airport becomes operational”.
He said “the project is estimated to cost around P4.4 billion, including P100 million for road right-of-way acquisition”.
The General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2018 GAA includes P500 million being set aside to implement the Panglao Island side of the project and “works for this component are ongoing”.
The DPWH Central Office has already completed the preliminary evaluation on the Draft Final Feasibility Study Report.
As there were some issues mentioned in the evaluation report, “DPWH and its consultants are currently addressing them”.
RDC-7 vice-chair, NEDA-7 Regional Director Efren Carreon thanked the DPWH for ensuring that the major infrastructure projects are included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
He said that many of these projects have been endorsed by RDC-7.
Including the proposed third Panglao Bridge in reference, DBM-7 Regional Director Imelda Laceras “said that government agencies should have an annual break down of projects that would take several years to complete, and to secure a multi-year obligation authority (MYOA) from the DBM”.
It was also noted in the October 5 minutes that Laceras “offered DBM’s services for those agencies needing guidance in phasing projects that could not be completed within one fiscal year, in order to ensure that projects forwarded to the RDC for endorsement have realistic implementation schedules or timetables”.
Meanwhile, Tagbilaran City, being adjacent to Panglao, also prepares for the inevitable increase of traffic volume.
Reports presented during the December 14 RDC-7 meeting also included the status of the proposed Improvement of the Bypass from San Isidro-Cabawan, Tagbilaran City to Malayo Norte, Cortes and Construction of Bypass linking Calceta Street and Hangos Road in Tagbilaran City.
RDC-7 passed a resolution approving the inclusion of the project in the Central Visayas Regional Development Investment Program 2017-2022.
As of December 5, “the project is included in the Central Visayas Regional Development Investment Program 2018-2022”.
On the other hand, there has been no feedback yet on the status of the RDC resolution endorsing the Improvement of the Bypass from San Isidro-Cabawan, Tagbilaran City to Malayo Norte, Cortes and the Construction of Bypass linking Calceta Street and Hangos Road in Tagbilaran City to the DPWH for funding and implementation.
Copy of the resolution with the project profiles was already sent to DPWH on November 6.