Mindanao’s longest bridge formally opened

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday inaugurated the 3.17-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge, the longest sea-crossing bridge in Mindanao, aimed at boosting connectivity and spurring economic growth in the region.

The P8.026-billion project, spearheaded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), connects Tangub City in Misamis Occidental with Tubod town in Lanao del Norte. 

The construction of the two-way, two-lane bridge began on February 28, 2020, and was successfully completed this month.

The bridge will dramatically reduce travel time between Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte from over two hours to just seven minutes. 

Currently, travelers must take Roll-On, Roll-Off (RoRo) vessels from Ozamiz to Mucas in Lanao del Norte, or drive 100 kilometers through Tangub-Molave-Tubod or Tangub-Kapatagan-Tubod roads, which takes at least 2.5 hours.

The Panguil Bay Bridge is expected to enhance transportation links between coastal areas in the region, providing 24/7 mobility for people, goods, and services, thereby accelerating economic activity in the surrounding areas.

The structure includes a 360-meter approach road leading to a 1,020-meter approach bridge on the Tangub City side, and a 569-meter approach road connecting to a 900-meter approach bridge on the Tubod side. 

The main bridge, featuring an extra-dosed design with a 320-meter central span, is supported by two 20-meter-high pylons anchored by six cable stays. A lighting system ensures both safety and aesthetics for night travel.

The project employed advanced Korean bridge technology, utilizing reverse circulation drilling on barges to create boreholes, along with the installation of thick permanent steel casings using revolving crane barges and vibro pile hammers.

Funded through a loan agreement between the Philippine government and the Korean Export-Import Bank signed in 2016, the Panguil Bay Bridge is one of 198 high-impact priority infrastructure projects under the Marcos administration’s “Build, Better, More” program.