(Tacloban City Information Office)
TACLOBAN CITY — The proposed Sorsogon–Northern Samar Link Bridge has moved a step closer to reality after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) confirmed the project’s feasibility and secured a proposed P130 million allocation for a new feasibility study in the 2027 national budget.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon made the disclosure during the House of Representatives budget hearing on August 26, in response to questions from House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan on the proposed Matnog–Allen Bridge.
Dizon said the funding would allow the feasibility study to be completed within 2027, bringing the long-proposed project closer to the engineering and financing stages.
The DPWH chief also said the agency has started discussions with major international financing institutions, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), for possible funding of the project.
“They have expressed very, very high interest in funding this simply because of the very, very high economic return, which is about 42 percent,” Dizon said during the hearing.
Dizon described the proposed bridge as a “critical link” of the Maharlika Highway that would connect Luzon and the Visayas through a permanent crossing between Matnog, Sorsogon, and Allen, Northern Samar.
Libanan, a former congressman of Eastern Samar, has been pushing for the project for the past four years. The proposed bridge is also supported by the Regional Development Council-Eastern Visayas (RDC-8), which has identified it as a strategic infrastructure project for improving connectivity between Eastern Visayas and Luzon.
“For four years, we have been pursuing the construction of the Sorsogon–Northern Samar Link Bridge, or the Matnog–Allen Bridge,” Libanan said in a statement following the hearing.
He said the project could provide a faster, safer and more efficient route for passengers, businesses and the movement of goods between Luzon and the Visayas.
The proposed crossing would serve as an alternative to the existing roll-on/roll-off ferry connection across the San Bernardino Strait, potentially reducing the region’s dependence on sea transport and minimizing travel disruptions during unfavorable weather conditions.
The bridge is envisioned to span about 20 kilometers, although its final length, design and construction cost will depend on the results of the feasibility and engineering studies.
Dizon said construction could take about six years once the project proceeds to implementation, meaning work could extend beyond the end of the current administration in 2028.
The project could become one of the longest bridges in the country. However, its scale presents significant engineering challenges, including deep-water construction, seismic risks, strong currents, typhoons and other environmental considerations.
The project’s construction cost was not discussed in detail during the August 26 hearing. Previous estimates have ranged from about P257 billion to P766 billion, depending on the proposed design and scope.
For Libanan, the DPWH’s confirmation that the project is feasible marks an important milestone, although he stressed that efforts must continue until the bridge is eventually constructed.
“This is a very important development for the project that we have long been pursuing,” Libanan said, adding that the confirmation strengthens the basis for moving the proposal to the next stage and eventually toward implementation.
“Four years we have fought for this. Now, we are closer to making it a reality,” he said.
Once completed, the Matnog–Allen link is expected to strengthen the country’s road network by providing a permanent connection between Luzon and the Visayas.
For Northern Samar and other parts of Eastern Visayas, the project could improve access to markets in Luzon while potentially reducing travel time and transportation costs for passengers and cargo.
JOEY A. GABIETA
