By LITO RULONA Correspondent COUNCILORS on Monday expressed alarm over the cracks at the Kagay-an Bridge even as they called the local chapter of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers to conduct a durability and stability test. This came after Councilor Lourdes Darimbang delivered a special report to express serious concerns about the bridge cracks near the Rodelsa Circle. She said her attention was called by people living the bridge. Darimbang proposed that a joint inspection be conducted by the city council’s committee on infrastructure chaired by Councilor Alden Bacal, mayor’s office, City Engineering Office and the Office of the Building Official just to make sure that the bridge is safe for public use. “I received the complaint last Saturday... I immediately made an ocular inspection in the area and found out that cracks were found along the side and middle of the bridge,” she said. Kagay-an Bridge connects barangays Carmen, Nazareth and Macasandig, and was built when Vicente Emano was mayor using a loan from a government bank. Darimbang said she was worried about the safety of people who use the bridge everyday, and for those living below. “I don’t want to wait for another disaster to happen,”Darimbang said, noting that the area was among those directly hit by rampaging waters when typhoon Sendong devastated the city in late 2011. She said if there was negligence on the part of those who built the bridge, then the local government should make them correct it based on acceptable engineering standards. She also called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct an immediate inspection, and see if it can help in the bridge’s rehabilitation. Councilor Ramon Tabor, meanwhile, said engineering experts in the city can help by finding out if the cracks at Kagay-an Bridge were a threat to public safety. Tabor said the City Engineering Office could also conduct an initial test, and make its recommendations. “Kinahanglankitaogbasihanngaatongi-recommend sa DPWH aronmapatawagang contractor,” Tabor said.