City Hall urged: Finish bridge project ASAP

CEBU, Philippines — Citing the danger that thousands of travelers face each time they pass through an alternative reinforced deck girder bridge because of the unfinished main roadway bridge project at Sitio Candarong in Barangay Pulangbato, Barangay Captain Barry Miñoza has urged the Cebu City government to finish the project as soon as possible.

Miñoza said the barangay council has already called for the City Council declaration of a state of emergency in the area. The barangay captain said he was told that the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) is now on the process of completing the bridge project after the contractor, SBD Builders, was terminated.

Miñoza said they are relying on the DEPW now to immediately complete the project.

According to Miñoza, motorists used to pass through the main roadway bridge before it was demolished, supposedly to give way for the construction of a new bridge.

"Nya karon kay guba naman, ang diversion road diri sa sapa and lisod kaayo agian. Unya og magbaha, wala mi laing access," said Miñoza.

Since the river is impossible to pass through during the rainy season, Miñoza said they are forced to take another diversion route that needs to pass through Barangays Binaliw, Agsungot, and Guba.

He added, that in Binaliw, there was an area where a landslide happened making it more risky for them.

“Kung mag-ulan di gyud ma-acess sa (river). Luoy gyud kaayo ang mga tawo didto muhuwat pa’g mga lima ka oras, upat ka oras ana usa nga (mo)hinay ang baha, nya inig agi nimo didto kuyaw pa gud pag maanod kay kusog ang tubig," said Miñoza.

Although the river has a spillway but this could not be accessed during heavy downpour because the water level rises.

In fact, Miñoza said they received several reports that there were motorcycle riders who fell when accessing the river during heavy downpour.

Miñoza is hoping that the construction of the bridge will be fast-tracked with the declaration of state of emergency.

"Kay wa naman na tiwasa sa contractor na, katong SBD Builders," said Miñoza.

"Di nata mohuwat nga naay mamatay," he added, referring to the risk of passing through the river.

Barangay Pulangbato has at least 1,000 residents but its neighboring barangays such as Sirao, Guba, Adlaon, and Taptap are also accessing the said road since it is closer to the main road.

Following the call for the declaration of a state of emergency, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said that he may have to wait for the decision of the Cebu City Council on the matter.

However, he agreed with the barangay's call so that necessary funds will be utilized to hasten the completion of the bridge.

"Wala pa naabot sa akong table ang termination (with SBD builders), although I (have) already given an instruction to terminate," said Garcia.

Last Wednesday, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera told the council that contract with SBD Builders was already terminated due to alleged discrepancy in the actual implementation vis-à-vis the plan. — /FPL (FREEMAN)