Kilikao Bridge finally set to open November 10

By Manuel T. Ugalde

LEGAZPI CITY --- After decades of delays and two failed bridge projects, residents of six agricultural barangays near Mayon Volcano in Daraga, Albay, are finally set to gain permanent river access with the scheduled opening of the long-delayed Binitayan-Kilikao Bridge on November 10.

Albay Gov. Noel Rosal announced that the P557-million, four-lane steel bridge would be inaugurated on the date, with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon expected to attend as guest of honor.

The bridge is intended to provide more reliable access to Kilikao, Miisi, Budiao, Banadero, Alcala and Matnog, whose residents and farmers have long struggled with transportation disruptions whenever heavy rains render the existing Binitayan-Kilikao spillway impassable.

Of the six barangays, only Kilikao lies outside Mayon Volcano’s six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone.

Rosal said the new bridge, which the DPWH reportedly facilitated with assistance from China, was intended to provide a permanent crossing over the Yawa River.

The project has a troubled history spanning more than two decades, with earlier attempts failing to deliver a lasting connection between the communities and the rest of the province.

In 2007, a P110-million, two-lane concrete bridge project was started but was reportedly abandoned by its contractor after reaching only about 20 percent completion. The project was funded through the P10-billion Bicol Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation and Economic Support (B-CARES) program, reportedly secured through the efforts of then-Sen. Joker Arroyo.

In 2009, the DPWH regional office initiated another attempt, this time involving a P40-million, two-lane steel bridge. The structure reportedly lasted barely a year before strong floodwaters swept it away.

The absence of a dependable bridge has since hampered the movement of agricultural products from the six barangays, where farmers rely on the spillway to transport their harvests to markets. Heavy rains frequently disrupt the crossing, affecting both residents and businesses.

The problem also had economic consequences for Kilikao, once known as the site of the Isarog Pulp and Paper Company, which was owned by the Benedicto family and employed thousands of workers. The company reportedly relocated to Sorsogon in 2009 after repeated problems with river access, leaving many Albay-based workers without jobs.

The latest bridge project, which began construction in early 2025, was initially scheduled for completion in October that year. However, work reportedly stalled after the contractor, Hi-Tone Construction, owned by former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Christopher Co, had completed about 50 percent of the project.

The prolonged delay prompted complaints that eventually reached Malacañang, leading President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to direct Dizon to ensure the bridge’s completion.

Dizon visited the project site in May and reportedly ordered the DPWH regional office to finish the project within three months, setting an initial deadline in July. Subsequent target dates in August, September and October were also missed.

The announced November 10 inauguration is expected to mark a significant milestone for the six barangays, which have waited decades for a reliable bridge crossing.