Bridge board to sue PUJ operator

CEBU, Philippines – The Mactan Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) headed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is contemplating on filing a damage suit against the operator of a public utility jeepney that accidentally caught on fire at the old Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

The MCBMB learned of the incident only yesterday. They were checking if the security monitoring system was still operational.

They saw a video wherein a PUJ stopped on the middle of the bridge. Passengers got off and transferred to another PUJ while others just walked away.

Heavy smoke was coming out from the PUJ, which later caught fire.

Board members said that such a situation would be bad if it happens on the fiesta of Lapu-lapu City. Fire trucks would have no way of reaching the fire scene on the bridge.

Garcia said the incident was "terrible." She asked representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways what action the MCBMB could take for the damage.

But lawyer Agustinito Hermoso of the DPWH legal department said no legal action could be taken unless there is actual damage. His response didn't please the governor who cited earlier incidents when two vessels rammed the bridge's pier and were asked to pay for the damages.

Garcia said they have not seen actual damages caused by the two vessels while the PUJ incident was caught on video.

Even if it was an accident, Garcia said such a mistake could not be tolerated because it posed threats of damage and threats to security.

"It was an incident that compromise the users of the bridge. We cannot just let go," she said.

Garcia asked P/Supt. Romeo Perigo who represented the Police Regional Office 7 to submit the police investigation of the said incident.

The board will invite the owner of the PUJ in their meeting next month. (FREEMAN)