Former DPWH Secretary, Senator Mark Villar visit

June 12, 2023, Tangub City – Former DPWH Secretary, Senator Mark Villar visits the PBBP construction site to assess the progress and highlight accomplishments made while he was in service.

When Mark A. Villar took the helm of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the government launched the Build, Build, Build program. It is by far the biggest, boldest, and most ambitious step taken by the Philippine government to ramp up infrastructure in the country. Part of its inter-island linkage and mega bridge program is the Panguil Bay Bridge. It is a 3.169-kilometer bridge that will connect the city of Tangub in Misamis Occidental to the municipality of Tubod in Lanao del Norte.

During his visit, Senator Villar carried out a thorough ocular inspection of the ongoing PBBP (Panguil Bay Bridge Project) construction in an effort to highlight the tangible outcomes of his time serving as the DPWH Secretary under the administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. In hindsight, the Panguil Bay Bridge ranks as one of his most significant initiatives, adding to his legacy as the forefront of the Philippines' infrastructure development.

From the groundbreaking on November 28, 2018, up until today when the bridge is nearing completion, his support never ceases. Now, as he walked through the site, the senator pointed out various structures and improvements, explaining their significance and the benefits they would bring to local communities, especially the residents of Lanao Del Norte and Misamis Occidental. Once the bridge is completed, it will only take 7 minutes to reach Tubod Municipality in Lanao Del Norte from Tangub City in Misamis Occidental.   Compared to the 2.5 hours it would take via the 100-km route Tangub-Molave-Tubod Road or via Tangub-Kapatagan-Tubod Road, crossing the bridge will just take seven minutes.

Senator Villar was also able to meet with the project's engineers and construction employees during the ocular inspection. He complimented their devotion and hard work, recognizing their significant contributions to the achievement of the PBBP's objectives.

Speaking to the media present, Senator Villar expressed his gratitude for the trust and support given to him during his tenure as DPWH Secretary. He highlighted the immense progress made in infrastructure development during the Duterte administration and reiterated his commitment to continue championing projects that would further enhance the nation's infrastructure network in support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Build, Build More (BBM) program.

The Build, Build More is an infrastructure program that targets to expand the previous administration's Build, Build, Build (BBB) program. This infrastructure program seeks to address the inadequacies of the country's infrastructure which hinders national development.

Senator Mark Villar's visit to the PBBP construction site and his emphasis on showcasing accomplishments made while serving as DPWH Secretary serve as further testaments to his dedication to public service and efforts to develop the country's infrastructure. Villar's background in the industry and his continued service as a senator will unquestionably be essential in determining how the Philippines' infrastructure will evolve in the future.

(Considered as the biggest and boldest infrastructure project in Northern Mindanao, the P7.375 Billion project to connect Tangub City and Tubod across Panguil Bay in just seven (7) minutes is funded by a loan agreement between Government of the Philippines (GOP) and Korean Export-Import Bank (Korea Eximbank)).