Matnog-Allen bridge project gets backing

CATARMAN, Northern Samar — Two members of the House of Representatives from this province have thrown their full support for the proposed construction of the Matnog (Sorsogon)-Allen (Northern Samar) Bridge Project that will connect Luzon to Samar Island.

Rep. Harris Christopher Ongchuan of Northern Samar's second district told The Manila Times that he and 1st District Rep. Paul Daza have pledged their full backing to the proposed project contained in House Bill 101748 sponsored by House Minority Leader and 4Ps Partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan.

Ongchuan said that the bill is also being supported by lawmakers from the Visayas and Mindanao.

Ongchuan said the proposed bridge will connect Matnog town passing by the island towns of Capul and San Antonio to Allen town in Northern Samar.

"Me and Rep[resentative] Daza are in full support of Rep[resentative] Libanan's bill to construct the Matnog-Allen Bridge that might be realized during our lifetime, together with the support of other lawmakers from the Visayas and Mindanao," said Ongchuan.

The House bill was approved last week by the House Committee on Public Works chaired by Surigao 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr.

The Department of Public Works and Highways announced through Secretary Manuel Bonoan that a budget of P200 million for the bridge feasibility study is included in this year's annual budget.

The proposed bridge project, with a span of around 22 kilometers, will help provide 24-hour land travel between Luzon and Visayas while stop the port congestion, long lines of cargo and private vehicles during peak seasons and bad weather conditions, thereby avoiding economic losses to the business community, and inconvenience and disturbance to local governments of Allen and Matnog.

At present, the travel time to cross Matnog and Allen, and vice versa, is between two hours via roll-on, roll-off vessels and it is canceled by the Coast Guard during bad weather.