Bulacan residents seek repair of hanging bridge

HAGONOY, Bulacan, Philippines  â€“ Fearing the safety of school children crossing it, residents of Calumpit and Hagonoy towns want a major repair of the more than 30-year-old hanging bridge linking their villages.

Spanning the Labangan Channel, the hanging bridge, built in 1977 with a length of 142 linear meters, suffered yet another damage a week ago, when the wooden girder in its middle snapped, leaving a 10-foot stretch hanging. It was the third such incident since typhoon “Pedring” in 2011.

Late last year, the provincial government did a minor repair on the bridge, but residents insist it was not enough.

“It needs a major repair to ensure the safety of residents, especially school children,” said Soledad Santos, councilwoman of Barangay Iba here.

Workers of the United Pulp and Paper Corp. also find the bridge a shorter route going to work or returning home.

For his part, village chief Celerino Fajardo said, “We don’t have enough funds that’s why we requested for a major repair after the 2011 flood.”

Now Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado and public works officials are vowing to repair the hanging bridge again, saying though a concrete and permanent one seems to be the solution.

Alvarado promised to send a team to assess the damage to the bridge. For his part though, public works engineer Ruel Angeles said they would still look for funds for the major repair.