The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has announced that construction of the Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge No. 1 in Tawi-Tawi Province is now 96 percent complete and on track for completion by July 2025.
The 541-meter bridge is a crucial component of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-assisted Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) and aims to significantly enhance connectivity between Bongao Island and Sanga-Sanga Island.
It is one of three major bridges being constructed in Tawi-Tawi under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “Build Better More” infrastructure initiative.
Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, who leads the department’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) and BARMM infrastructure programs, stressed the strategic importance of the bridge. “The Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge, together with the Tongsinah-Paniongan and Malassa-Lupa Pila bridges, represents more than physical infrastructure.
These are powerful symbols of the national government’s commitment to unlocking Mindanao’s economic potential and promoting inclusive growth in the Bangsamoro region,” said Sadain.
On May 23, 2025, Senior Undersecretary Sadain and ADB Vice President Scott Morris led a site inspection of the project. They were joined by Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael I. Sali and a high-level delegation from ADB, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), the Department of Finance (DOF), and DPWH officials.
The ₱1.08-billion project includes a 380.8-meter bridge span and a 160-meter approach road, implemented by the Unified Project Management Office – Roads Management Cluster II (UPMO-RMC II).
The project is overseen by Project Director Teresita V. Bauzon, with Project Manager Ernante S. Antonio, and constructed by China Wuyi Co., Ltd.
Progress on the two other Tawi-Tawi bridge components under IGCMRSP was also reported: Malassa-Lupa Pila Bridge No. 3 (680 meters across the Manalik Channel), connecting Sanga-Sanga Island to mainland Tawi-Tawi, is 72% complete.
Deck slab work has reached Pier No. 3, with ongoing bored piling and fabrication. Tongsinah-Paniongan Bridge No. 2 (570 meters), linking Pababag Island to Sanga-Sanga Island, is in the early stages of civil works, with bored piling and equipment mobilization underway.
“These infrastructure investments will not only enhance the transport network in Tawi-Tawi but will also boost key local industries such as fishing and seaweed farming. More importantly, they form part of our broader commitment to peace, stability, and inclusive development in the Bangsamoro,” Sadain noted in his report to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan.
The ongoing projects reaffirm the national government’s vision to integrate the Bangsamoro region into the country’s mainstream economic growth through resilient and modern infrastructure.
