Bridges to link Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Leyte

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from the proposed third Cebu-Mactan Bridge, three more bridges are being proposed to connect Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol and Leyte to be known as NECEBOLE Bridges.

This was announced by Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs and head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, Secretary Adelino Sitoy, during the 104th Foundation Day of the Municipality of Cordova last Sunday.

The bridges will connect Sibulan in Negros Oriental to Santander in Cebu, Cordova in Cebu to Getafe in Bohol, and Ubay-President Carlos P. Garcia in Bohol to Maasin City in Southern Leyte.

There is also railroad component from Santander to the City of Naga then a rail bridge to Cordova alongside the proposed third Cebu-Mactan Bridge of the Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp.

"Kay di man kasakay ang railroad sa himoon nga taytayan sa Metro Pacific, maghimo og laing taytayan para sa train, di na matandog ang taytayan nga maoy mag-una," Sitoy said

Sitoy said he presented the projects to President Rodrigo Duterte when he made the presentation of the proposed 1,500-hectare Cordova Recla-mation Development Project of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. estimated to cost about P138 billion.

The proposed reclamation project is now pending with the Philippine Reclamation Authority while the proposed bridges are now with Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways, said Sitoy.

Sitoy said the government will not spend money for these projects as these will be under public-private partnership.

A few days ago, Sitoy said an investor from Spain visited him and expressed interest to finance the Cordova-Getafe, Bohol Bridge.

Sitoy said he will ask Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III to let the Municipality of Cordova under the leadership of his daughter, Mayor Mary Therese "Teche" Sitoy-Cho to sign the memorandum of agreement between the Province of Bohol for the Cordova-Getafe Bridge.

"Buwahan sa ato ka gamay, duna pud tay bahin sa gross income," he told Cordova residents.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sitoy said the municipality is now geared towards preparing the development in the years to come.

"The coming year is defining and significant, as we prepared to take on the challenges of the world outside the cocoon of our town, improve the quality of life of our townfolks, increase our standards in all aspects, prioritize goals and work on them," she said in her message. —/BRP (FREEMAN)