OPEN FOR SERVICE. Motorists can now use the Anao-aon Bridge which was destroyed during the Feb. 10 earthquake that rocked the Surigao del Norte. Photo by Ben Serrano
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By Ben Serrano,
Correspondent

BUTUAN City — Damaged by Feb. 10 earthquake, the Anao-aon Bridge in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte is now passable and open to public and motorists. The Surigao del Norte Provincial Engineering Office, however, have put the limit weight of vehicles using the bridge at eight tons and only one vehicle could pass at a time.

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Provincial Engr. Alwin T. Pono told Gold Star Daily in a phone interview that the temporary opening to motorists and public of the Anao-aon Bridge was in response to public’s complaint that travelling to and from San Francisco, Malimono, and Surigao City have become costly especially for cargo and freight handlers.

“Because of the temporary re-opening of the bridge, motorists, local residents, traders no longer pay P50 for motorcycle in hauling and no longer pay additional for cargoes hauled that costs extra expenses to the public,” Pono said.

During convergence meetings on updates of the aftermath of the earthquake and its aftershocks, Surigao del Norte provincial and Surigao City government officials invited local officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

DPWH 2nd District Surigao del Norte Asst. District Engr. Emmanuel Cabañas admitted that while DPWH already has steel structures to be used for a detour bridge, it has no P2 million in funds for the transport cost of these from Manila to Anao-aon.

“We have no savings, the reason why, until now we have not built the detour bridge because we cannot bring in the steel structures, trusses for detour consturction,” Cabañas said in the same meeting.

Governor Sol Forcadilla Matugas has requested the DPWH, national government, and other concerned government agencies that the destroyed old bridge – which was built 40 years ago – must be preserved to be made as historical marker of the Feb. 10 earthquake that rocked the province.

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