A bridge that connects people, culture and technology (Sabong News)
Author
Edgard Hilario
Date
MARCH 04 2022
A sneak peek of the nearly-completed B-I bridge, connecting Intramuros with Binondo, was held recently, showing a unique Bridge Landscape Design with its arch rib design inspired by the structure of leaves and flowing water waves and the two arch ribs leaning against each other — ingeniously combining modern architectural technology and bridge landscape design — symbolized “the unity of China and the Philippines, side by side, hand in hand.”
The Pasig River traverses the east-west direction of Metro Manila, and with the development of the economy, traffic on both sides of the river has become more congested. At the request of the Philippine side, China donated two bridges for the Philippines on the Pasig River. One is the E-P bridge, completed and opened to traffic on July 29, 2021, and the other is the B-I bridge.
The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Association of the Philippines Foundation Inc. (FFCAP), and the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. (PCCCII) generously donated money for the creation of the China-Philippines Friendship Park, built near the bridge and is nearing completion. It will not only become an excellent place for tourists to visit to enjoy beautiful scenery, but also a symbolic place where people from the two countries share their friendships.
The B-I bridge counts among its social benefits for the people the opportunity to use and share advanced bridge construction technology. Many Filipino technicians have grown into technical and management experts after being trained by “Chinese teachers” during the building process.
There is also the benefit effectively alleviating the traffic congestion on both sides of the Pasig River. Approximately 30,000 vehicles can be opened to traffic every day, improving the travel efficiency of the people. It is envisioned to help the local government increase employment and improve people’s lives as more than 200 Filipino workers were employed, accounting for 80% of the total workers.
The B-I Bridge also counts among its benefits a contribution to local environmental protection. The B-I Bridge prioritizes the procurement of highly efficient and energy-saving construction equipment and materials and pays attention to on-site wastewater recycling. A Water Fog Cannon was used to remove dust to reduce air pollution. Professional institutions were also commissioned to regularly test and evaluate the air and water quality, check the treatment of wastewater and septic tanks, and timely improve it. Lastly, the B-I Bridge seeks to motivate the development of the bridge materials industry in the Philippines. The B-I Bridge purchased materials such as steel, engineering equipment, and building materials produced by local enterprises in bulk, with a total value of 2.47 billion pesos, which directly motivates the development of related industries.
The main bridge of the B-I bridge adopts a two-way four-lane design with a length of 586 meters, and the overall span of the bridge is about 678 meters. The project started on July 17, 2018, and is now very near in completion.
In addition to the B-I Bridge, China and the Philippines also have three bridge projects in Manila: the North and South Harbor Bridge, the Eastbank-Westbank Bridge, and the Palanca-Villegas Bridge, with commercial procedures completed. The Samal Island to Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project is also advancing as planned. Meanwhile, the Kaliwa Dam Project is under construction. Once completed, it will help meet the increasing water demand and provide thousands of jobs for Metro Manila. Additionally, the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project will irrigate 8,700 hectares of farmland in the Cagayan and Kalinga provinces and improve crop yield once completed. There are still a host of G-to-G projects in progress, totaling billions of dollars.
China remains the largest trading partner, the largest source of imports, the third-largest export market, and the second-largest foreign investor of the Philippines. DITO, a flagship telecom project participated by China Telecom, has so far acquired over 5 million on-net subscribers. Panhua Group’s Integrated Steel Mill project, with an investment of $3.5 billion in phase I, is under construction, once completed, will double the annual output of steel in the Philippines.
