President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the milestone ceremony for 32.15-ki
lometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge that stretches from Mariveles,
Bataan to Naic, Cavite. (PCO)
MARIVELES, Bataan
(PIA) — President Ferdinand
R. Marcos Jr. underscored the
long-term benefits and opportunities brought about by the
Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge
(BCIB) to the country.
With four lanes and a
length of 32.15 kilometers, the
P175.6-billion infrastructure
project stretches from Mariveles,
Bataan to Naic, Cavite.
It also includes construction of interchanges with
the existing road network, local
existing junction improvements,
land and marine viaducts, approach bridges over marine
area, turnaround facility near
Corregidor Island, and special
span bridge near Cavite Coast.
In his speech during
the milestones Ceremony, Marcos expressed his enthusiasm
for the rippling effects of the infrastructure to the people, economy and the country.
“If this bridge is any
indication of what comes next,
then I should not be the only one who looks forward to the future with great optimism. One does not need to be well-versed in construction and engineering to
realize the magnitude of this endeavor. It is an enormously difficult and complex
plan that we will have to constantly commit to achieving, which are, of course,
[for] great benefits that Filipinos will enjoy,” Marcos said.
He cited that once finished, the soon-to-be longest bridge in the country will shorten the Bataan to Cavite [vice-versa] travel time from the usual five
hours of drive to approximately 45 minutes.
The President likewise mentioned the positive impact of the bridge on
the prices of services and commodities, and the traffic situation in Metro Manila.
“That will be an incredible feat when it happens
and would significantly help in decongesting Metro Manila as motorists will be able to travel without passing
through the metropolis. It will also help in bringing prices
down for goods and services as the transport and logistics costs will decrease, thereby generating immense
savings all around,” he explained.
Also, Marcos highlighted the inclusive progress
and new doors of opportunities for Bataan, Cavite and
their neighboring provinces paved by the improved connectivity.
“It is also impressive to think about how this
project will support the development of seaports in the
said provinces, making them potential international shipping gateways of the country,” he noted.
With all these advantages, the President ordered Department of Public Works and Highways to remain on-track and finish the landmark project on schedule.
The bridge project will be divided into seven
contract packages to accelerate the completion.
“Do your best, always, to ensure that civil works
for this bridge will commence by October this year. See
to it as well that the bridge, once completed, will have
sufficient links with major thoroughfares in Cavite and
Bataan so that it will truly be a facilitator of interconnectivity and linkages among our people and our provinces,”
he instructed.
BCIB was funded by Asian Development Bank
and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and is among
the infrastructure priorities of the government. The project is expected to enhance inter-island linkages and
connectivity, and reduce transport logistic costs.
It is included in the recently approved National
Economic and Development Authority Board list of infrastructure flagship projects that will continue the previous
administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program into this
administration’s “Build Better More” program.
