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Construction of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge will begin before the year ends, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28
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The 32-kilometer bridge traversing Manila Bay will reduce travel between Mariveles, Bataan and Naic, Cavite from the current five hours to just 45 minutes
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Aside from BCIB, Marcos also mentioned a few other transport projects of the government, but there was no mention of big-ticket infrastructure projects
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In 2026, Marcos said they expect to open to motorists part of the extension of South Luzon Expressway from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Quezon
Construction of the 32.15-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) will begin before the year ends, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28.
The bridge traversing Manila Bay will reduce travel between Mariveles, Bataan and Naic, Cavite from the current five hours to just 45 minutes, Marcos said.
The bridge project will comprise two cable-stayed bridges for navigation channels, 24 km of marine viaducts, and 8 km of approach roads. It aims to address traffic congestion in Metro Manila and improve the movement of people and goods. It is a crucial part of the government’s infrastructure initiatives and will complete the transport loop around Manila Bay, linking Metro Manila to central Luzon, as well as Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces.
In 2023, The Asian Development Bank approved $2.1 billion in financing for the construction of BCIB. The funding plan involves multiple tranches, with the initial tranche amounting to $650 million.
READ: ADB approves $2.1B financing for Bataan-Cavite bridge project
Last year, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as co-financer also greenlit financing up to P64 billion for the construction of the BCIB project.
Aside from BCIB, Marcos also mentioned a few other transport projects of the government, but there was no mention of big-ticket infrastructure projects.
In 2026, Marcos said they expect to open to motorists part of the extension of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Quezon.
Construction of SLEX Toll Road 4, which extends the expressway from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City, Quezon province, is ongoing.
Once this project is completed, travel between the two areas will only be one hour from the current four hours, Marcos noted.
Another project is the Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project (MTCIP), which will connect Regions 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao region), and 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN).
Consisting of five major components, the MTCIP involves connecting Regions 10, 11, and 12 by upgrading and ensuring the long-term maintenance of the Cagayan de Oro-Davao-General Santos Corridor with road sections encompassing 277.4 km from Cagayan de Oro to Davao and 150.8 km from Davao to General Santos City. The project also involves the upgrade of three local roads totaling 129.86 km.
The National Economic and Development Authority Board last year green lit the P37-billion MTCIP.
READ: NEDA approves P37B Mindanao transport project
Rehabilitation of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Bicol Line and Binahan Bridge in Camarines Sur damaged by typhoon Kristine last year is also ongoing. Marcos said soon, the rail line will be able to serve until Ragay, Camarines Sur and Tagkawayan, Quezon.
Marcos also noted a few bridge projects, including the completed Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge in Tawi-Tawi; the Malassa-Lupa Pula project for completion next year, also in Tawi-Tawi; repair of the EDSA-Guadalupe Bridge
Relatedly, Marcos said he had directed the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity to visit bridges in the country and ensure that they are well maintained and in good condition.
“At ang mga proyekto, tama dapat ang disenyo. Mataas dapat ang kalidad. Natatapos sa takdang oras. At naaalagaan at namementina nang mabuti,” Marcos said. (Projects should be designed correctly and should be of high quality, completed on time and then maintained properly.)
Marcos said the government also plans to revive the “Love Bus,” a popular bus service that started in the 70s.
He said the service will be free and still in the pilot stage in Davao and Cebu, and eventually in other areas in Visayas and Mindanao.
