Mindoro bridge nearing completion after 11 years

CALAPAN CITY , Philippines   â€“ A controversial bridge project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Oriental Mindoro is nearing completion after 11 years, according to the latest report of the agency’s first engineering district office here. 

DPWH first district engineer Efren Padilla, in his latest report to Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr. and Bishop Warlito Cajandig of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan, said the new contractor of the Abaton-Maidlang Bridge in Calapan City has promised to complete the project by August.

Over the years, the bridge project has been hounded by various construction flaws, mismanagement by a number of contractors, and the base of the bridge compromised repeatedly by the earth’s movements.

The project, which will connect the eastern portions of Calapan City and Naujan town, was started sometime in 2002 during the term of late governor Bart Marasigan Sr.

It has been handled by different contractors, the latest of which is J.D. Legaspi Construction which, according to Padilla, promised to finally finish it by August if all the needed state-of-the-art materials from Germany and Australia are delivered on time.

According to DPWH project engineer Joseph Lofamia, the 240-lineal meter bridge is jointly funded by the Philippine and Austrian governments at a total cost of P117,429,665.22, and that so far, three spans of the bridge are completed.     

Meanwhile, local DPWH officials led by assistant district engineer Nestor del Rosario said some portions of the national highway in Puerto Galera town, particularly those with asphalt covering, need to be rehabilitated.

Based on their assessment, Del Rosario said the outer layer of these highway sections are obsolete and impractical to be maintained, and should be cemented to become permanent.

Engineer Godofredo Villalon, who is assigned to the P54-million project, advised motorists and tourists visiting Puerto Galera of temporary inconvenience as the contractors are rushing the roadwork before the rainy season.

Villalon and Del Rosario are both optimistic that the project, spanning a net length of 3,380 lineal meters, will also be finished by August.