NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority (Neda) - Western Visayas regional director Ro-Ann Bacal said Sunday, March 3, they are waiting for the completion of the feasibility study (FS) on the Negros-Panay Bridge project.
The completion of the FS is expected within this year, Bacal said.
She also said that the Chinese consultants have already started their studies where they are expected to finish all the components of the FS since they have a time line to follow.
“They are not divulging how much it is. There are many things that cannot be quantified. They are doing the activities as initial steps committed by the Chinese Government to the Philippines so the result of feasibility study would give us an indication how much the total cost of the project would be,” Bacal said.
Bacal assured that the project is a priority of the government because this was listed as among the priority projects of the government under the Build, Build, Build Program of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Neda- Western Visayas director made the statement amid reports that A Soil Boring Test, a type of geologic engineering tests to determine the capability of the soil or to determine the strength and properties of a required building foundation is being conducted in Iloilo for the Negros-Panay Bridge project.
“What I know is that there are activities done by the Chinese consultants. I don't know what specific tests were already conducted. They have been doing their activities very quietly and they have the time line to follow. But things are already been undertaken in terms of test because this is scheduled in the next few years,” Bacal said.
She said that they are waiting for the feasibility study and once it is submitted to them they will evaluate and probably be conducting a parallel value analysis that will provide inputs for decision making.
The Negros-Panay Bridge project is mega project that requires huge funding. (TDE)