Panguil Bay Bridge connecting Lanao Del Norte, Misamis Occidental opens

After years of construction, approvals, adjustments, and delays, motorists traveling between Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental will now be able to get to their destinations via a new bridge. The Department of Public Works & Highways (DPWH) has officially opened the 3.17-km Panguil Bay Bridge which is set to enhance connectivity in Northern Mindanao.

Present during the opening ceremony included President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Maria Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa, Lanao Del Norte Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo, and Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal.

The construction of the mega infrastructure was made possible via a PHP 8.026 billion budget that was carried out through a loan agreement signed in 2016. The said loan was agreed upon by the Government of the Philippines and the Korean Export-Import Bank - Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KEDCF) under Loan Agreement No. PHL-18.

As mentioned before, the newly opened Panguil Bay Bridge crosses Panguil Bay and directly connects the aforementioned provinces via Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Tubod Town in Lanao Del Norte. Construction first began on February 28, 2020, but multiple challenges and delays were faced due to the pandemic and budget constraints.

The bridge itself features 54 board piles and 32 piers which ensures a solid foundation capable of supporting the mega structure that spans over 3 km. It also has a two-lane, two-way traffic carriageway with a width of 13 meters.

The infrastructure also made use of advanced Korean bridge technology which includes; reverse circulation drilling on barges to create boreholes and launching of thick permanent steel casings using revolving crane barges and vibro pile hammers. Additionally, two land and sea-based batching plants supplied ready-mixed concrete for the project.

Its world-class design also features an extra-dosed main bridge with a 320-meter central span. It is then supported by two 20-meter-tall pylons anchored by six cable stays and complemented by a lighting system. All of these provide structural support, enhance the bridge’s aesthetics, and provide safety for nighttime travel.

With the opening of the new Panguil Bay Bridge, travel time between Misamis Occidental and Lanao Del Norte has been greatly reduced from 2 hours via RoRo vessels to only 7 minutes.