Only two bridges are needed to link the three main islands of the Philippines.
The first bridge will connect Sorsogon to Northern Samar and the second bridge will connect Southern Leyte to Surigao, according to Bases Conversion Development Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Vivencio Dizon.
Dizon said there are “visionary projects” that the Duterte administration was aiming to achieve as part of its “build, build build” thrust to improve infrastructure all over the country.
“There is so much optimism and excitement from the international community,” said Dizon referring to his visit to Tokyo recently. The international funders particularly China are expected to support the infrastructure development of Duterte.
“We have to develop Clark and Central Luzon,” according to Dizon citing that President Rodrigo Duterte “acknowledged the need to develop” Clark and regional areas.
The big-ticket infra projects of the Duterte administration are by far the “boldest, most ambitious infra projects in history,” Dizon said.
Dizon said the Santa Monica-Lawton-Bonifacio Global City Link Bridge will take off around 100,000 vehicles from the heavily congested EDSA.
The ongoing NLEX-SLEX Connector Road will also allow a 30-minute travel time between Alabang and Balintawak. It is expected to be operational by 2020.
In Mindanao, the Davao City Bypass Project will allow buses and cars to motor all the way to Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros and Cebu. The Mindanao Railway will develop the route between Davao City and Surigao and travel time between the two points is two hours.
The Tutuban-Malolos segment of the Manila-Clark Railway will start construction this year, according to Dizon while the Malolos-Clark segment is expected to be finished by 2021.
Clark Freeport Zone will also be connected to the deep-sea port of Subic via the side alignment of the Subic-Clark Cargo Railway.
All these projects in Central Luzon are intended to support the development of the Clark International Airport and to decongest Metro Manila.
Dizon said the Duterte administration will pursue the 8 million capacity terminal of the Clark airport following the original design of the French firm Aeroport de Paris.
“(We) are not building for present capacity but for future capacity,” said Dizon.