The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Central Visayas on Tuesday underscored high-impact projects under the Bagong Pilipinas infrastructure initiatives of the Marcos administration.

Ernesto Gregorio Jr., regional director of DPWH-7, said the projects undertaken by the country’s premier public works agency are expected to boost the economic development in the region and will redound to the benefit of the residents.

Gregorio highlighted the New Panglao-Tagbilaran Offshore Bridge Connector project, the USD92-million 2.6-kilometer third bridge connecting the main island of Bohol to Panglao Island, to serve as an alternative route to the Jacinto Borja Bridge and Ambassador Suarez Bridge.

“We have completed the ramp and some approaches of this project. But the remaining portion is the main bridge…This is a foreign-funded project,” Gregorio said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas at their regional office in South Road Properties, in this city.

Gregorio said another project in the initial construction stage is the Tagbilaran Cultural Hub, a PHP140-million cultural center in Tagbilaran City, expected to be finished in three years.

In collaboration with the Department of Transportation, the DPWH-7 is undertaking the expansion of the Siquijor Airport using the PHP450 million additional budget.

“We have just inspected the airport last week. They now have a beautiful runway and terminals. So, it’s possible that bigger airplanes may be accommodated in Siquijor,” Gregorio said, hinting that the development will increase the visitor count in the island province.

In Cebu, the DPWH-7 is undergoing the construction of the 36-kilometer Asturias-Danao-Liloan Bypass Road with a budget of PHP250 million, and is eyed to decongest traffic along the existing national roads in Metro Cebu.

Gregorio also confirmed that the 56-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway in the mountainous villages will continue through the Cebu province’s public-private partnership initiatives. (PNA)