Finally, a significant milestone in the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project has been announced, signaling a major step toward the realization of the long standing dream of Ilonggos to connect the city of Iloilo to the province of Guimaras.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas announced on March 3 that the loan agreement for the construction phase of the 32.47-kilometer inter-island bridge that will connect Iloilo to Guimaras is targeted for execution in September 2025.
Treñas, who chairs the Infrastructure Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Region VI made the announcement following the RDC meeting on Monday.
If the projected timeline will proceed without delays, Treñas said the civil works is scheduled to commence in July 2026. The anticipated completion and operational launch of the bridge is set for June 2028.
The Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Link Bridge Project, a P187.54-billion initiative, promises to revolutionize transportation and foster economic growth within the Western Visayas region.
As for the Section B (the Guimaras-Negros section) of the project, it is scheduled to be finished by 2030.
The Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) is slated to provide funding for the construction of Section A of the bridge.
For decades, residents in the islands of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros relied heavily on ferries for transportation. While essential, ferry services often come with limitations—weather disruptions, limited schedules, and unreliable connections.
