CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, September 27, inaugurated the P8-billion Panguil Bay Bridge, now Mindanao’s longest, in a move that could redefine the region’s connectivity and economic landscape.
The 3.17-kilometer bridge, which links Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental, slashes travel time from about two and a half hours to a mere seven minutes, presenting itself as a game-changer for local industries and commerce, said Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
The bridge starts with a 360-meter approach road, leading to a 1,020-meter approach bridge on the Tangub City side in Misamis Occidental. Across the bay on the Tubod side, a 569-meter approach road connects to a 900-meter approach bridge. The centerpiece is the main bridge, with its central span supported by two pylons, each anchored by cable stays, providing essential structural stability.
“The long wait is over. This has been the dream of people in Northern Mindanao,” Bonoan told reporters.
He said the project saw many challenges, and was delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The construction of the Panguil Bay Bridge began in 2020 under former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” initiative, which sought to improve the country’s infrastructure. However, the groundwork for the project dates back further.
The loan agreement for the bridge, backed by the Export-Import Bank of Korea-Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KEXIM-EDCF), was signed in 2016 during the administration of the late former president Benigno Aquino III.
Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo hailed the project as a “milestone” not only for Northern Mindanao but for the neighboring Zamboanga del Sur province in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region.
“This bridge is expected to dramatically increase trade and economic activity between our provinces,” Dimaporo said, underscoring its role in transforming the local economy.
But the project, while touted as a landmark infrastructure achievement, may soon face competition. A longer bridge is already in the works: the 3.98-kilometer Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) in the Davao Region, which will eventually surpass the Panguil Bay Bridge as Mindanao’s longest.
Before the Panguil Bay Bridge, travelers were left with limited, time-consuming options. The most common route required either queuing at Kolambugan port to catch a barge to Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental or taking a circuitous land route through Zamboanga del Sur. The new bridge changes all that, offering a direct, faster alternative that could bring economic growth through enhanced accessibility and tourism.
Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal said the new bridge would open doors for further regional development.
“This bridge symbolizes a new era of connectivity,” he said. “We are optimistic about the future, with faster travel meaning better access for businesses and tourists alike.”
Oaminal said the bridge has been a dream in the region since the early 1970s. – Rappler.com
