PHILIPPINES – A grand bridge project, estimated at P284 billion, connecting Sorsogon in mainland Luzon and Northern Samar in the Visayas is being advocated for inclusion in the nation's Mega Bridge Program. This proposal comes from 4Ps party-list Representative Marcelino Libanan.
He sees it as a pivotal infrastructure move that promises to facilitate transport and significantly bolster the economy, mainly benefiting the MSME sector.
Currently, transport across the San Bernardino Strait, a stretch between Allen, Northern Samar, and Matnog in Sorsogon, is primarily facilitated by roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ferries. These two seaports, 28 kilometers apart, require a ferry transit time of about ninety minutes.
To provide concrete data on the project's feasibility, a study initiated by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in 2019 found that a bridge over this stretch is plausible. The findings indicated that with a budget set at P284 billion, the bridge could be operational within six years.
Libanan, in his passionate advocacy for the project, pinpointed its significant economic potential. He emphasized the opportunities it would provide at the grassroots level, particularly for the low-income segments of society. "The investment in wages, and the related consumer spending that results from it, will surely pay off many times over and contribute to alleviating poverty," Libanan said.
Before representing the 4Ps party list, Libanan's dedication to public service was manifested in his three-term tenure representing the lone district of Eastern Samar.
The overarching Mega Bridge Program of the Philippines already encompasses numerous large-scale bridge projects, including:
- The Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island link
- The Bataan-Cavite connection
- A connector bridge between Samal Island and Davao City
- Fourth bridge between Cebu and Mactan, among others.
If approved, the Sorsogon-Northern Samar bridge will seamlessly integrate into this network, reinforcing the nation's roadmap toward comprehensive infrastructure progress. —iTacloban (Source: BM)