CLARK FREEPORT—The long-ignored plan for a bridge across Manila Bay to directly link Calabarzon and Central Luzon regions without passing through Metro Manila may yet be realized during the Duterte administration amid plans to include it in the list of projects to be included in the Philippine Development Plan by next year.
“It was first proposed during the term of the late President Marcos. The plan was to build a bridge from Mariveles, Bataan through Corregidor Island to Naic, Cavite,” said Assistant Regional Director Agustin Mendoza of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Mendoza said the Manila Bay bridge proposal has continued to be pushed by Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia and is now being considered by the board of the Regional Development Council (RDC) for the eventual approval of Pres. Duterte by next year.
He estimated that the bridge, which would stretch about 20 kilometers, would cost from P80 billion to P100 billion.
Felicito Payumo, former chair of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), had referred to the project as the Trans Manila Bay Crossing, which he first pushed during his first term as congressman in 1987. At that time, he noted that the project would significantly solve traffic in Metro Manila and would not be confronted with right of way issues.
Payumo also noted that the bridge would lessen traffic volume along EDSA in Metro Manila which up to now has remained the only major route for motorists headed to either the northern or southern Luzon provinces, as the bridge would altogether skirt Metro Manila.
The proposal, however, remained in the backburner of Congress.
International renowned urban planner Felino Palafox has also long been supporting the bridge proposal, saying it would take only two to three years to finish the project. He noted that at the Pearl Delta region in China, a 40-kilometer bridge took only five years to complete.
Mendoza expressed optimism that amid the worsening traffic in Metro Manila and growing support of leaders from Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog regions, the project would be approved for funding and started if not finished during the Duterte administration.
“There are proposals for its funding, including PPP, foreign loans or even national government funding. Decision on this would come later,” he added.
