The Ninoy Aquino Bridge was inaugurated by His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on August 18, 2014 in Tuao, Cagayan.
The President led the ceremonial unveiling of a marker plate on the bridge named after his father, the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino III together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio L. Singson, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Secretary Manuel Mamba who is from Cagayan Province.
Also present were DPWH Regional Director Melvin B. Navarro, Construction Division Chief Jose Tobias together with other District Engineers and Regional Staff.
The 360-meter lineal meters Ninoy Aquino bridge connects the Cagayan Valley Region to the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), particularly to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao.
The bridge is an inter-regional linkage between and among Regions I, II and CAR.
The P599.4-million Ninoy Aquino Bridge is connected to the 40-meter Malummin Bridge, and the 20-meter Angang Bridge. The project also consist a 21.93-kilometer road network in Tuao.
Secretary Singson said the bridge will reduce the travel time from Tuao to Kabugao from four to five hours to two-and-a-half hours.
The two-hour travel time from Tuao to Conner, Apayao will also be reduced by half an hour, while the two-hour trip from Rizal in Cagayan to Tuguegarao will be reduced to one hour and twenty minutes, he added.
Secretary Singson said that the Ninoy Aquino bridge was built to replace the "Itawes overflow bridge" which is usually impassable during typhoons and floods. He added that the all-weather bridge will make transportation and traffic sufficient and free flowing 24/7.
Regional Director Melvin B. Navarro said that with the completion of the bridge, Cagayan Valley Region 2 is linked to CAR particularly Apayao via Conner and Kabugao. Likewise, Baguio will be accessed via Tabuk City, Tinglayan and Bontoc. Region I is linked through the City of Vigan and the towns of Santa and Narvacan via Pinukpuk, Balbalan and Bangued.
The construction of the bridge and its approaches has significantly reduced travel time to Region I and CAR. It was made possible with the connection of two (2) national roads, which are the Jct. Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road, Tuao-Abbut Section of CAR and the Cagayan-Apayao Road of Region II.
This project shall promote socio-economic development and shall alleviate the living condition of the people.
DPWH has generated a savings of P33.7 million in this project through an efficient and transparent bidding process.