DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines — A proposed bridge connecting Cebu and Negros Oriental would be the best way to improve the two island’s transport links and spur economic growth.
Cebu City South District Rep. Antonio Cuenco, who attended the third Annual General Assembly of the Regional Development Council-Region VII yesterday, sees the need to press for construction of a bridge between the two provinces.
“Duol ra man ning Sugbo ug Dumaguete. Ako isugyot nga magbutang og taytayan puslan man mangayo ta og proyekto sa national,” Cuenco said.
While Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias II welcomes Cuenco’s proposal, he said the plan had been brought up since the time of then Cebu Gov. Emilio “Lito” Osmena, who was at that time the RDC chairperson.
Macias recalled that when the proposal was raised, they invited Japanese contractor to study the project but the contractor said that it would be impossible construct a bridge.
“The current there is very strong,” Macias said.
Cuenco proposed a bridge to be built from Barangay Bato, Samboan town in Cebu to Barangay Tampi in the town of Amlan, Negros Oriental.
This is not the first time that plans to link Visayas islands have been discussed.
During the administration of then Governor George Arnaiz, a bridge link between Negros Oriental and Cebu from Tampi Wharf in Amlan to Bato in Samboan was proposed.
However, the plan was not able to take off due to the high cost involved in the construction of the bridge, which at that time was pegged at P7 billion.
In the 2nd RDC meeting held in Bohol, Gov. Enrico Aumentado sought the assistance of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on the documentary requirements after the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) assured him that South Korea will fund the feasibility study on a bridge linking Cebu and Bohol.
Aumentado said the anchors of the bridge will be Getafe town in Bohol and Cordova town in Cebu.
Passing through shallow waters between the two provinces, the bridge is estimated to be 18 kilometers long.
The Bohol-Cebu Multi-Access Friendship Bridge (BCMAFB) already has the endorsements of Bohol Provincial Development Council (PDC) and Central Visayas Regional Development Council.
It needs the approval of National Economic and Development Authority. — Garry B. Lao/LPM (THE FREEMAN)