TANGUB CITY, MINDANAO – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a critical onsite inspection of the nearly finished Panguil Bay Bridge Project, set to open next month, ensuring it meets all operational standards.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain, accompanied by officials from the Unified Project Management Office Operations, oversaw the inspection last Friday. The bridge spans 3.17 kilometers and will link Tangub City in Misamis Occidental with Tubod in Lanao del Norte. This strategic connection is designed to significantly cut down travel time between these two locations from two and a half hours to just seven minutes, bypassing the need for roll-on/roll-off vessels.
The project, which amounts to PHP 7.375 billion, is financed through a loan from the Republic of Korea. It is more than 97.5 percent complete, with only final touches remaining. The inspection team focused on the bridge’s deck slab, approach roads, and safety features such as barrier and median strip concrete, metal guardrails, and ancillary structures. They also reviewed the ongoing finishing works which include waterproofing, asphalt paving, expansion joints, aesthetic enhancements, electrical lighting systems, line markings, and road signage installation.
This landmark infrastructure project is anticipated to provide a rapid, direct route that will facilitate easier and quicker movement across Northern Mindanao, enhancing economic and social interactions across the region.