BOLINAO, Pangasinan — After almost two decades of waiting, a bridge that will connect the island of Santiago to mainland Pangasinan will finally be constructed soon. Sen. Imee Marcos last Sunday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the P1.95-billion bridge at Luciente 1 village. "It was my first term as mayor in 2005 when we first requested that bridge. And this year, when the bridge will begin construction, I'm mayor again," said Mayor Alfonso Celeste in a telephone interview. The construction of the bridge is expected to be completed on 2027. Santiago Island, located off the northeast coast of Bolinao, is composed of seven villages: Victory, Pilar, Salud, Goyoden, Lucero, Binabalian and the island village of Dewey. To reach the mainland, Santiago residents travel by boat or cross a channel between the villages of Luciente 1 and Lucero in the island through a landing barge. Celeste said that when the bridge is completed, Santiago Island will be another investment area for business, eco-tourism, aquaculture, cottage industry and salt production. He said that it is in one of the island's villages where top quality dried "danggit" (rabbitfish) and other fish products are processed. It is also in the villages of Salud, Pilar and Victory where skilled weavers produce handcrafted eco-friendly products made of buri palm leaves which are abundant in the island. "With the bridge, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute's sea nursery, where thousands of giant clams are located, will now be more accessible," said Celeste. At present, the sea nursery which lies on a shallow reef near Silaki Island of Binabalian village, may be reached by a one-hour boat ride from the Picocobuan Fish Port. Gov. Ramon Guico III thanked Senator Marcos for helping in the implementation of the bridge project. Guico said that an airport will also soon rise in this town to "show to the world the beauty of this part of our country." This town also boasts of its white sand beaches, waterfalls and historical places. The Balingasay River, which was named many times as the cleanest river in Ilocos Region, is the location of a seafood restaurant that offers a river cruise aboard a floating roofed raft pulled by a motorized boat. Other attractions are the 118-year-old Cape Bolinao lighthouse and the 17th century St. James the Great Parish Church. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 1, the bridge is funded under the General Appropriations Act. A total of P130 million to start the project has been released. Once completed, the Santiago Island Bridge will span a total length of 3.3 kilometers, including a 2.62-kilometer road with shoulder lanes, slope protection, road safety facilities, and bike lanes. The bridge itself will measure 680 lineal meters, providing a direct and secure connection between the villages of Luciente 1 in the mainland and Salud in Santiago Island. In a press statement, DPWH-1 said that the bridge is expected to be a major boost for the town, offering a safer and more efficient alternative to the current transportation. The ground breaking ceremony was also attended by Pangasinan 1st District Rep. Arthur Celeste, DPWH regional director Ronnel Tan, Bolinao Vice Mayor Richard Celeste, DPWH assistant regional director Mathias Malenab, and provincial board members Apolonia Bacay and Napoleon Fontelera.
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