DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar assured Friday, March 29, the construction of the proposed Negros-Guimaras-Panay bridge project will start within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Villar revealed that the feasibility study has already been completed for the project, which also includes the proposed bridge between Davao and Samal Island in Mindanao.

A Chinese company will be undertaking the project.

In a press conference Monday, former special assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go revealed that the project is among those included in the “Build Build Build” program of President Rodrigo Duterte for Negros.

At present, a Chinese team from the CCCC Highway Consultants Co. Ltd. is conducting a survey for the project. Architects and engineers are now concentrating on the detailed engineering and design phase before proceeding with the construction.

Earlier this month, the Department of Finance announced the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project may be funded through loans from China.

In a statement by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, he assured the public that funds from the Chinese Government will be used for the benefit of the Filipino people.

The bridge project, a key project of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, is earmarked at P40 billion.

When completed, the bridge would have a span of 19 kilometers.