CEBU, Philippines - A diversion route in Lindogon, Simala in Sibonga town has been opened to buses and cargo trucks while a temporary steel bridge in Barangay Dumlog is being installed.
The alternative route is open from 11 pm to 3 a.m. daily but can only accommodate trucks that weigh 20 tons.
Personnel from the town are detailed in the area to man traffic.
The alternative route was opened after the provincial government, the Department of Public Works and Highways and Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos reached a consensus yesterday.
The bridge at the national highway in Barangay Dumlog collapsed due to flashfloods brought about by tropical storm Seniang last week.
Last Saturday, Governor Hilario Davide III visited Sibonga to inspect the collapsed bridge and to discuss options for alternative routes with DPWH and town officials.
Present during the joint inspection were DPWH Asst. Secretary Dimas Soguilon and DPWH 1st Dist. Engineer Nicomedes Leonor, Jr., and Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas.
DPWH has assured to complete the installation of a steel bridge 10 days from now or before Sinulog.
Aside from the alternative route, an additional two-meter wide footbridge in Barangay Dumlog was also opened yesterday. The footbridge is made of coco lumber and measures about 15 meters in length.
Meanwhile, assessment is ongoing in areas affected by the tropical cyclone to determine actual damage but the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has projected it to reach up to P800 million.
The Provincial Information Office reported 1,430 families affected in four barangays in Alcantara town, namely Paolo, Poblacion, Palanas, and Lawaan.
In Dumanjug, 82 houses were destroyed while 90 were damaged, but the report of the town’s social welfare office covers only 21 out of 37 barangays.
In Ronda town, at least 48 were destroyed and 80 houses were damaged in 10 barangays.
Bacaltos, in an earlier interview, told The FREEMAN that Sibonga lacks manpower to undertake damage assessment.
“Wa pa gyud kabalik ang uban gikan sa bakasyon. Mihangyo pud sila nga adto sa sa ilaha kay taas man gud ang bakasyon ron,” he said. (FREEMAN)