Here are some of the proposed “Superbridges” that
will crossed seas and connect islands.
1. Trans Manila Bay Crossing
A super bridge and a mega tunnel will compose theTrans Manila Bay Crossing patterned after the Tokyo Aqualine (image below). The proposed
multi-billion project will connect the town of Naic, Cavite and traversing the
waters of Manila bay up to the town of Mariveles in Bataan. A portion of the
project will pass by the island of Corregidor, running a total length of around
15Km.
2. Batangas-Mindoro Superbridge
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) expressed interest in building
the Batangas-Mindoro Superbridge which would surpass the length of San Juanico Bridge that
connects Samar and Leyte. SMC President Ramon Ang planned to build the
14-kilometer-long bridge at an estimated cost of P18 billion, which he
presented to the Office of the Governor of Batangas and Oriental Mindoro.
3. Catanduanes-Bicol Friendship Bridge
The Tourism Infrastructure & Enterprise Zone
Authority (TIEZA) has allocated P50 million for the feasibility study of 10.7
km. two lane Tourism Friendship Bridge with Tourism Complex Midway, connecting
San Andres, Catanduanes to Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur.
4. Samar-Sorsogon Bridge
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| San Juanico Bridge Photo by R. Madronero |
The Department of Public Works and Highways projected the gargantuan project to cost at least Php 92.23 Billion to link Sorsogon and Samar. Sen.Francis
"Chiz" Escudero said he will push for the construction of a bridge connecting Luzon to Visayas to improve trade and commerce between the two
islands and hasten the delivery of government aid during calamities. Trucks carrying cargoes to
Northern Samar are usually stranded at the port of Matnog during peak season of
RoRo service, delaying the delivery of goods to the province. The "super
bridge" will not only ease the travel from the main island of Luzon to
Eastern Visayas during times of calamities, but will also bring in more tourists
and development opportunities to both regions.
5. 3rd Cebu Superbridge (Cebu-Cordova)
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| Similar design of the 3rd Mactan(Cordova)-Cebu Bridge |
The Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC)
of Manny Pangilinan won the bidding to build the 3rd Mactan-Cebu
Bridge at a cost of Php28 Billion. The bridge will span eight kilometers from
the mouth of the Guadalupe River, passing Shell Island and then to Cordova. The project
includes the construction of a toll plaza and causeway. This will ease the traffic on the existing two bridges connecting the highly progressive urban centers and tourist destinations of Metro Cebu. Construction for this project have already started.
6. Cebu-Bohol Friendship
Bridge
The phrase best describes why the proposed Bohol -Cebu Multi Access Bridge appears viable wherein Bohol needs Cebu’s excess power and Cebu needing
Bohol’s abundant water from the expansive Inabanga River. The initial plan is to connect the Friendship bridge with the 3rd Mactan (Cordova)- Cebu Bridge.
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| Projected design for Cebu-Bohol Frienship Bridge |
There are reportedly two Australian firms bullish not just in funding the feasibility study, but to go through the project as a major partner
of government under the BOT (Build Operate and Transfer) scheme.The bridge will
be the physical conduit to “transfer ” both power and water to and from both
provinces -unlike the more expensive and dangerous underwater cables linking Bohol to Leyte’s
geothermal electricity source.
7.Planned Panay-Negros Bridge
It is the dream of all
Ilonggos to have a connecting bridge linking two major islands in WesternVisayas. Negros Occidental's Alfredo Marañon, chairman of the Regional
Development Council which is the highest planning body of Western Visayas, is eyeing an
ambitious but attainable project for a bridge connecting Iloilo in Panay Island
to Negros Island.
8. Surigao-San Ricardo Leyte Mega Bridge
Completing the backbone of the Philippine Road and Rail
system is the the Surigao-Leyte Double Deck Bridge. The national government planned a cable-stayed long span bridge similar to the 2nd Cebu-Mactan Bridge but longer. The proposed bridge will span 23 km. connecting the two provinces at a tune of a whooping Php101.35B.
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| Design will be similar to the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge |
9. P6-Billion Samal Island-Davao Bridge
The pre-feasibility study
of the Samal-Davao Bridge was already completed. It was conducted by Katahira
and Engineers International (KEI), a Japan-based civil engineering consultancy
firm. The detailed engineering design is underway. Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo
of the Department of Tourism revealed to the media that the Mindanao Team of
Pres. Duterte will push for the Davao City to Samal Island connecting bridge
project. This kind of project will surely benefit not only the people of Davao
but also the growing number of local and foreign tourists.
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| PROPOSAL BY FILIPINO DESIGN TEAM BUDJI + ROYAL ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN |
10. Panguil Bay Bridge
The national budget will
fund P586 million of the total P4.9 billion costs for the construction of the
pioneering Panguil Bay Bridge project in Northern Mindanao, the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM) said during the ceremonial signing today of the
loan agreement between the Philippine Government and the Export-Import Bank of
Korea-Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KEXIM-EDCF). Considered a major
infrastructure development in Northern Mindanao, the Panguil Bay Bridge will
connect Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tubod City, Lanao del Norte, and
reduce travel time between Tangub and Tubod from the usual 2.5 hours to 7
minutes. It will also significantly improve the travel time from Cagayan de Oro
and Iligan to the cities of Tangub, Ozamiz, Oroquieta, Dipolog, and Dapitan in
Zamboanga de Norte. – from the Department of Budget and Management
The Philippine economy slowly revitalized during the
Arroyo administration. The previous administration (PNoy Aquino administration)
performed well with the macroeconomics of the country, though many argued that
progress were limited to the higher and middle class. Now with the new Duterte
government, many Filipinos are confident that economic growth and prosperity
will reach every Juan from Aparri to Jolo. And these bridges will be a conduit of prosperity and unity to a geographically divided country; a symbol of solidarity. Abante Pinas!
