Marcos: Bataan-Cavite Bridge construction starts by yearend

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. announced on Monday that construction for the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge project, one of the world's longest maritime bridges, will begin before the end of 2025.

The $3.24 billion project will be funded through a multi-tranche financing scheme involving the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Spanning 32 kilometers across Manila Bay, the bridge is expected to reduce travel time from Mariveles, Bataan to Naic, Cavite from five hours to just 45 minutes.

The project will be divided into seven contract packages, with construction starting first on two on-land approaches: a 5-kilometer land approach in Bataan and a 1.35-kilometer one in Cavite.

Packages 3 through 7 include marine viaducts, channel bridges, and ancillary works, with about 80% of the structure over water, connecting two barangays across Manila Bay.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos emphasized that his administration will not tolerate corruption in infrastructure projects, citing the collapsed Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela as an example.