Bulacan village gets new bridge

President Estrada will inaugurate tomorrow a modular steel bridge that links two barangays in San Miguel, Bulacan, highlighting the continuing partnership of the Philippines and Austria in bringing development to the countryside.

The Balaong-Masalipit bridge, billed "Tulay ng Pagmamahal" by Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim, was prompted by the need to connect Barangays Balaong and Masalipit, which are isolated from each other, especially during heavy rains when the river swells to about four meters.

The bridge is a pilot project of Phase 2 of the three-year President’s Bridge Program, which targets 316 modular steel bridges in 78 provinces.

Spearheading the program is the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Waagner Biro Binder AG of Austria, through its Philippine subsidiary, Waagner Biro Phils. Inc.

The bridge program is made possible with funding assistance from the Austrian government and the development initiatives of both the DILG and the Presidential Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects.

Expected to join the President at the inauguration are Lim, Flagship Programs and Projects Secretary Robert Aventajado, Bulacan Gov. Josie de la Cruz, San Miguel Mayor Santiago Sevilla, Austrian Ambassador Wolfgang Jilly, Austrian Trade Commissioner Wolfgang Harwalik and Waagner Biro Phils. chief executive officer Helmut Wuzela.