Cebu Provincial Board: Barbed wires to deter suicides

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board has asked the city governments of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu to study the possibility of installing barbed-wire fences along the sides of the two bridges connecting the two cities to deter suicide attempts.

This, following a suicide incident earlier this month involving a 44-year-old woman who died after jumping off the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and landing on the concrete footing of the bridge.

She suffered broken teeth and also broke her knees as a result of the impact.

The victim reportedly suffered from nervous breakdown and epilepsy since she was a child.

“Both bridges connecting Mactan (island) and Mandaue is a popular choice for suicide attempts considering their height and their accessibility.

One way to prevent another suicide attempt is to install barbed fences which would be difficult for people to climb or jump over,” read part of the resolution sponsored by Board Member Arleigh Sitoy.

The body said setting up a fence would be an added safety feature “although, admittedly, it would be an eyesore to some.”

The Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board is planning to restore the paging system at the First Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge to help deter suicide attempts on those bridges since it would enable authorities to call the attention of a person who is to about jump off the bridge.

The paging systems of the two bridges are currently offline.

Aside from the barbed fence, the PB also requested the concerned police units to deploy a few of their personnel to guard the area.

“It would be ideal if police visibility or at least marshals are deployed within the bridge’s vicinity to immediately report or respond to such kind of attempts,” the PB said. — /RHM (FREEMAN)