TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, December 22 (PIA) – The Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC7) is looking for additional funding to complete the Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector (PTCOBC) project.
The multi-million approaches of PTCOBC project may be completed now, but the 2.6-kilometer main bridge still needs funding.
This covers the construction project at the Book Pantalan side of the bridge and the other end, the Dauis side.
RDC7 is still waiting for the review, appraisal and approval of the funding for the PTCOBC project which has been proposed for a grant from the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).
CIDCA is facilitating for the procurement of consultancy services to undertake the conduct of an updated feasibility study for the project, according to the project brief shared during the latest RDC7 meeting in Bohol.
With the funding for the main bridge still uncertain, RDC7 through Bohol Vice Gov. Dioniso Victor A. Balite has requested the endorsement of the Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) to explore the possibility of additional international fund sources for the PTCOBC project.
It may be recalled that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) put in the PTCOBC as part of the RDC7 Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP), which has been endorsed by the council to the NEDA Board-Investment Coordination Committee.
The NEDA ICC approved the P6.955 billion project on January 29, 2022.
This covers the construction of a 2.6-kilometer bridge as an alternative route to the existing Jacinto Borja Bridge and Ambassador Suarez Bridge.
It aims to improve inter-modal transport in Metro Tagbilaran by directly linking the New Bohol Airport to the Tagbilaran Seaport.
It also hopes to facilitate the movement of goods, services, and people, especially local and international tourists, and decongest traffic in the central business district by providing a new bypass access and diverting vehicular movements to and from Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City.
Regional Development Plan
The bridge is responsive to the Expand and Upgrade Infrastructure chapter of the Central Visayas Regional Development Plan for 2023-2028.
Once completed, it will reduce travel time between the Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Tagbilaran Seaport.
The bridge approaches and the resettlement component were funded using local funds under the DPWH budget with appropriations of P333.52 million, P193 million, and P100 million in the fiscal years 2018, 2019, and 2023 national budget, respectively.
To date, the bridge approach at the Municipality of Dauis and Tagbilaran City have been completed.
As of May 24, 2023, the IDC asked the RDC secretariat for updates on the project’s funding source.
By June 6, 2023, the NEDA Board-ICC told the IDC Secretariat that the main bridge would be funded through a grant from China, and that CIDCA is still facilitating the procurement of consultancy services to undertake the conduct of an updated feasibility study for the project.
Once the updated feasibility study is completed, it would be submitted to the Chinese government for review, appraisal, and approval.
However, Balite asked the IDC to explore possible additional international fund sources for the project.
The IDC passed a resolution recommending that the RDC full council request the NEDA Board-ICC and the DPWH to explore other official development assistance as additional funding source for the construction of the main bridge of the PCOBC project. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)
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