THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it delayed awarding a contract package of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge project to November while awaiting a go-signal from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“We are going to award the most critical package of the project within November… It is now pending with the ADB for concurrence and will be awarded next month,” Public Works Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon told reporters on the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines Infrastructure forum on Monday.
Earlier this year, Mr. Dizon said that the DoTr hopes to award the first phase of the $3.91-billion bridge project by September.
Last year, it announced that the first phase of the $3.91‑billion project drew at least eight bidders, mostly Chinese construction firms.
The first-phase contract involves a package to build the Bataan-side approach to the bridge, capped at P7.25 billion.
The DPWH said the Bataan land approach contract package consists of a five-kilometer road, an interchange connecting to the Roman Highway, the Roman Interchange Bridge, the Alas-Asin Main Bridge, the Alas-Asin Overpass, the Mt. View Overpass, the Mt. View Waterway Bridge, and the Bataan Land Viaduct.
The 32.15-kilometer interlink bridge across the mouth of Manila Bay is expected to boost regional economic integration and development.
In 2023, the ADB, which is co-financing the project, approved a $2.11-billion loan. The government is responsible for the remaining $664.23 million.
According to the ADB, the civil works for the Bataan-Cavite Interlink bridge will be broken up into six contract packages.
Contract package 2 or the Cavite land approach covers 1.3 kilometers of roads, while Contract package 3 involves the north and central marine viaducts.
Contract package 4 covers the south marine viaducts. Contract packages 5 and 6 involve the bridge’s navigational channel cable and high-level approach spans.
The DPWH has recommended the award of the P3.07-billion contract package 2 of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink bridge project to a consortium led by China Wu Yi Co. Ltd.
In a resolution dated Nov. 13, 2025, the DPWH’s bids and awards committee said the consortium of China Wu Yi, Jinan Urban Construction Group Co., Ltd. and CM Pancho Construction, Inc. was the highest-rated bidder in the scoring of their technical package and price.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dizon said the DoTr is focusing on the completion of infrastructure projects via multi-year contracts that will sidestep year-to-year budget disruptions.
A multi-year contract authority issued by the Department of Budget and Management allows government agencies to enter into contracts whose duration exceeds a budget year.
“Our policy moving forward will be to ensure that every project that is ongoing must receive what they call a multi-year contractual authority or MYCA. What we want is (guaranteed) appropriations once a project is ongoing,” he said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose