Kidding aside: DPWH says Panguil Bay Bridge is 69% complete

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) began the year with 61% progress on the Panguil Bay Bridge project – a 3.17-kilometer bridge that connects Tangub City in Misamis Occidental to the municipality of Tubod in Lanao del Norte.

After putting up all the 54 bored pile workings, as well as completing work on the installation of the pre-stressed concrete for pylons 1 and 2, the agency is focusing on building the 36 abutment and pier columns on both ends which will span from Tubod, Lanao Del Norte, and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental.

That said, the DPWH says in its latest report that the longest sea-crossing bridge project in Northern Mindanao is now (of all numbers) 69% complete. But contrary to the last progress report, the project may take longer than expected.

Previously, the agency has a goal of opening the bridge by December 2023. But according to DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, the inter-island bridge project is targeted to attain 90 percent completion by December 2023, reach 95 percent by March 2024, and be open to vehicular traffic by June 2024.

Once finished, the DPWH claims travel time between Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental will be cut from 2 hours by land to just 7 minutes, bringing many benefits to the local economy and conveniences for businesses and the general public in Northern Mindanao.

Hopefully, the DPWH's construction activities won't run into issues that will hamper progress, so that Northern Mindanaoans don't have to wait longer to fully utilize the benefits of this bridge project.