President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted on Monday, July 24, that the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges are among his priorities.
Marcos in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), cited the prioritization of physical connectivity under the country’s P8.3 trillion “Build Better More” program to further spur economic growth.
He said the infrastructure spending shall be about 5-6% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), with its majority allocated for physical connectivity.
“The underlying logic to our infrastructure development is economic efficiency. We are opening up all gateways to mobilize goods and services at less cost and in less time, and ultimately, to drive the economy,” Marcos said.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who opted to watch the SONA remotely due to the weather bureau’s advisory that Egay may intensify into a super typhoon, said that the president’s announcement is good for the province.
Negros Occidental Representatives Alfredo Marañon III, Francisco Benitez, Emilio Bernardino Yulo, and Mercedes Alvarez lauded the president’s assurance that the PGN bridges were among his priorities.
Alvarez said it is good news for Negros that the president highlighted the PGN bridges as one of his administration’s major projects.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas also thanked the president for mentioning in his SONA the PGN project that will create a big impact on the lives of the people in Western Visayas in general, and the residents of Iloilo City in particular.
“The Panay-Negros-Guimaras Bridge has long been a dream for us,” he said.
He added that with the project coming to fruition, ease of transportation, dynamic movement of goods and services, and much enhanced economic and tourism activities are assured.
