Tacloban City, Jan. 6 -- Actual construction of the PHP20.2 billion Second San Juanico Bridge (SSJB) project will begin in 2029, according to the updated timeline presented by the Regional Development Council.

Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) Eastern Visayas Regional Director Meylene Rosales said Tuesday that the actual construction of the foreign-funded project will take some time to start.

Approval of the project by the Economic Development Council (EDC) and loan signing are anticipated this year.

The SSJB Project will undergo a detailed engineering design phase lasting over a year, with civil works expected to begin in 2029 and span approximately 32 months.

The project scope includes the construction of a ne...