Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the 3,300-kilometer bridge that will connect seven villages of Santiago Island to mainland Bolinao.

Ilocos Region Director Ronnel Tan, in an interview, said the project was allocated PHP130 million under the national budget for this year alone.

The project has a total amount of PHP1.95 billion and PHP218 million has been proposed for 2025, he added.

Santiago Island has seven villages, namely, Binabalian, Goyoden, Lucero, Pilar, Salud, Dewey, and Victory with a total population of 18,690 based on the 2020 Census of Population.

Tan said the initial phase of the construction would begin this year with target completion in 2028.

“The DPWH assures (the public) that what we have started, we will surely complete it,” he said.

Marcos, the project proponent, said she was eyeing to include the project as among the flagship programs of the national government.

“Katakot takot na potential (ang maidudulot ng paggawa ng tulay) at kawawa naman ang mga tao (Construction of the bridge has huge potential and the people need it),” she said.

Municipal Administrator Blesilda Ramirez, in a phone interview, said the bridge project was a welcome development since people currently use boats to travel to and from the islands, which is dangerous when the weather is bad.

“It takes 20 minutes (to travel) from Picucubuan Port to Binabalian, at PHP20 to PHP25 fare per person. The boats transport people and goods three to four times daily,” she said. (PNA)