Construction of a new resilient bridge across scenic Loboc River is now one step to reality.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar with Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. and Congressman Arthur Yap led on Friday, March 16, 2018 the ceremonial groundbreaking for the construction of new Clarin Bridge replacing the old Clarin Bridge in Loay, Bohol Province which was badly damaged by the October 2013 earthquake that hit the Central Visayas.
Other key persons present during the groundbreaking ceremony included DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) representative Keisuki Fukui, Embassy of Indonesia to the Philippines representative Ibu Budi Dewayante, Bohol Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II, Loay Mayor Rochelle Brigitte Lim Imboy, Special Envoy to China Fernando Selim Borja together with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, DPWH Region 7 Director Ador Canlas, and Bohol 1st District Engineer Francis Antonio Flores.
The long-awaited construction of the 104 lineal meters Clarin Bridge with a nielsen arch type design is part of the Bohol Circumferential Road Contract Package 3 under the DPWH Road Upgrading and Preservation Projects funded by a loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines and Government of Japan through JICA.
DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster 1 will closely supervise the implementation of the P445.772 Million two (2) lanes bridge project awarded to Vicente T. Lao Construction in partnership with Indonesia’s PT Wijaya Karya that also covers the construction of approach roads with a total length of 425 lineal meters.
According to DPWH Project Director Virgilio C. Castillo, the actual civil works activities will immediately commence and work is expected to be completed within 18 months or by September 2019.
Aside from providing safe, economical and reliable mobility of people, goods and services, the new Clarin bridge will further boost the tourism industry of the island province of Bohol in Central Visayas