Japanese
Investors visit Tubod for Panguil Bay Bridge Project
IN
AN EFFORT to push the implementation of the ambitious Panguil Bay Bridge
Project, Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Leo S. Ocampos is taking
a lead in finding ways for possible financial sources for the realization
of the project.
Last
Thursday, 23 September 2004, three (3) Japanese Investors visited Tubod,
Lanao del Norte to explore the likelihood of financing the project.
The investors were Osamu Murata, Tsunami Nagata, and Junichiro Motoyama.
Murata
is the Chief Representative of Japan Bank for International Cooperation
(JBIC) while both Motoyama and Nagata are from the Pacific Consultants
International (PCI).
Part
of their visit is also to have a first-hand observation in the sites
where the bridge is to be constructed.
In
a meeting with Governor Ocampos and Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda
Q. Dimaporo, the three Japanese investors have expressed their interest
to finance the project. “At least there are some foreign investors
who are interested to finance the project…then, we are optimistic
that the project will soon to be realized,” Governor Ocampos said.
It
has to be noted, that the Panguil Bay Bridge Project is one of the high
priority development projects that was proposed during the 8 August
1997, Donor’s Meeting on the Special Zone of Peace and Development
(SZOPAD) held in General Santos City. The price tag of the project is
pegged at 2.4 billion pesos, making it one of the biggest infrastructure
projects in Region 10.
Once
completed, the bridge will lessen the travel time from the Province
of Misamis Occidental to the Province of Lanao del Norte of one hour
to three minutes. The Panguil Bay Bridge will directly contribute to
Mindanao’s economic and physical integration and will support
its rural, agro-industrial and socio-economic development. It is hoped
that this development would pave the way towards the materialization
of this ambitious project. (William Valles Jr., PGO-PIC/K. Aoanan,
PIA 10)
