By Dolly Yasa
on Thursday, July 27, 2017

BACOLOD City – Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occ.) said the Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros bridge is feasible amid observations that it is a pie in the sky.

“Then the pie in sky will come down” Benitez said when asked for his reaction.

Benitez said the feasibility study on connecting the islands of Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros is now in the works.

He added that the feasibility study will look into the bridge between Iloilo and Guimaras. It will also include the coastal road in the 3rd district of Negros.

“It will be China which will fund the project.”

Benitez recalled that the proposal to connect Iloilo to Negros via a bridge was initially pushed during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino.

It was also revived during the administrations of Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III.

The proposed bridge connecting Iloilo to Guimaras is about 2.6 kilometers long.

Benitez pointed out that China is the best bridge builder in the world.

He was told by Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua in a dialog Sunday night that the 2 to 3-kilometer distance is “peanuts”, as the bridge connecting Macau and Hong Kong is longer.