Rehab of typhoon-hit Ifugao bridge gets P40 million

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Ifugao residents can now look forward to having their typhoon-collapsed Burnay Bridge, which linked five of their towns, restored after the national government earmarked P40 million for its restoration.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the amount has been allocated for the rehabilitation of the bridge in Ifugao’s capital town of Lagawe, which was heavily damaged during the onslaught of typhoon “Pedring” last Sept. 27.

As a result, the towns of Banaue, Hingyon, Hungduan, Mayoyao and Lagawe were isolated from the rest of northern Luzon for several weeks until a temporary bailey bridge was built.

Engineer Edilberto Carabbacan, DPWH director for the Cordilleras, said they have conducted the preliminary work for the bridge’s immediate restoration.

In addition, he said their office has also allocated another P10 million for the damaged Guihob Bridge, another major link in Ifugao, one of the country’s tourist destinations.

This, he said, was aside from the allotted P58.35 million for disaster risk reduction measures for the Cordilleras.

“It is the goal of President Aquino and (DPWH) Secretary (Rogelio) Singson to finish (the repair) of all arterial or primary national roads in the country by 2014 to normalize the economic and social conditions of our people affected by calamities,” he said.