The long-awaited Panay–Guimaras–Negros (PGN) Bridge will not break ground this year as earlier projected, with the government now setting 2027 as the target start of construction for its first phase.
The updated timeline was confirmed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-6) through regional director Denise Maria Ayag.
According to the director, several preparatory requirements must still be completed before the multi-billion-peso infrastructure project can begin.
Ayag explained that although the detailed engineering design (DED) of the bridge system has already been finalized, government agencies are still working on critical groundwork such as the right-of-way acquisition and refinements in project planning intended to ensure smoother implementation.
The PGN Bridge project is designed as a major inter-island link composed of two main sections.
The Panay–Guimaras Bridge (Section A) will span 13.616 kilometers, while the Guimaras–Negros Bridge (Section B) will extend 19.47 kilometers, creating one of the most ambitious connectivity projects in Western Visayas.
Under the plan, the first bridge will connect Leganes in Iloilo to Buenavista in Guimaras, forming the initial phase of the larger inter-island corridor that will eventually reach Negros Occidental.
Earlier projections from the agency in September 2025 targeted the start of construction for the first phase within the third or fourth quarter of that year.
However, adjustments in the project’s implementation plan and land acquisition processes have pushed the schedule back.
The entire infrastructure undertaking carries an estimated P167.5 billion budget, with more than P57 billion allocated for the Panay–Guimaras segment and around P109 billion for the Guimaras–Negros connection.
Once completed, the inter-island bridge network is expected to significantly shorten travel time, improve logistics, and strengthen economic and tourism links across Western Visayas, transforming how people and goods move between the islands.IMT
