Two prominent provinces in the Visayas will culminate their friendship with an infrastructure, which will come to be known as the “Bohol-Cebu Multi-Access Friendship Bridge.”
During a press conference held last October 18, 2010, Sixth District Rep. Luigi Quisumbing disclosed that Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado and Seventh District Rep. Arturo Radaza have requested him to co-author a bill seeking for a project study regarding the proposed “super bridge,” which will link Getafe, Bohol and Cordova, Cebu.
An earlier motion was submitted at the House of Representatives for the filing of the bill. The motion received favorable support from the Regional Development Council-Region VII through DPWH Bohol in 2009. DPWH Bohol has endorsed the proposal to the Economic Development Cooperation Fund to acquire financial support for a subsequent feasibility study.
Rep. Aumentado was the governor of Bohol when the infrastructure project was conceptualized. He actively supports the proposal noting that the bridge will largely improve vehicular and passenger traffic between the two provinces. The connection will also help answer Bohol’s needs for electricity by sharing with Cebu’s electric power and fiber optics, while Cebu can also augment its needs for water by hitching on Inabanga’s abundant supply through pipes. Such an endeavor is deemed to benefit both provinces in the long term.
The provincial government of Bohol, in coordination with Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will commence a feasibility study before the end of 2010, with approximately US$3 million in working funds. The Economic Development Cooperation Fund of the Republic of Korea has also pledged to release funds for a feasibility study, which will be completed in six months.
The proposal awaits the endorsements from the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Investment Coordination Committee technical board of the National Economic and Development Administration, the NEDA board, and the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The construction of the 90-kilometer bridge is expected to cost at least Php20 billion. In fact, President Benigno Aquino III commented that as of now, the project is “too ambitious.” Still, we’re happy to have something to look forward to.
