The project which is included in the ten programs of the Marcos Administration for public-private partnership (PPP) was first proposed by Oriental Mindoro Cong. Alfonso Umali in 2015 and is currently being pushed by Governor Dolor in a bid to help spur growth and development in Oriental Mindoro and the entire MIMAROPA region post-pandemic.

“We have started bringing together global experts across disciplines, including a European architectural and engineering firm to do a technical feasibility study on how the bridge can be built sustainably to benefit both people and the environment,” SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.

He added that since his last meeting with Governor Dolor late last year, SMC’s team has engaged the services of a local company to initially do a bathymetric survey to measure water depth. The bridge will start from Barangay Ilijan in Batangas, and pass through Verde Island and land in Barangay Sinandigan in Puerto Galera.

“We thank Gov. Dolor for pursuing this game-changing project and considering our company to be able to deliver a world-class bridge. It has faced a series of setbacks over the years but we hope that together we can finally bring the vision to fruition,” Ang added.

The bridge is seen to result in faster and more efficient transport of people and goods and spur local economic growth through job generation, higher investments and optimization of basic services such as water, power and telecommunications, among others.