DPWH REGION 10 SUBMITS REPORT TO VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ – OUT OF 11 BRIDGES, 3 ARE IN BAD CONDITION WHILE 8 IN POOR CONDITION

Cagayan de Oro City – When Mambayaan Bridge in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental was damaged twice last year (January 13 and December 29, 2014) due to typhoons Agaton and Seniang, the province suffered beyond structural damage as its transportation to and from the province was paralyzed and the deliveries of goods and products were delayed. Given the situation, Vice Governor Joey G. Pelaez felt the urgency to take action in order to avoid such incident to happen again and authored the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution no. 06-2015 “urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to check, monitor, and reinforce the structural integrity of all bridges in Misamis Oriental to withstand future calamities and avoid greater damage to the province as a whole.”

The resolution was immediately sent to DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson and DPWH Regional Director Evelyn Barosso PhD, CESO III for immediate action. Vice Governor Pelaez cited “that many other bridges in Misamis Oriental are already decades-old and need significant assessment and reinforcements to hold out against the wrath of nature brought about by climate change” and that the same problem can be avoided if the status of bridges across Misamis Oriental are assessed “to extend its usefulness and additional reinforcements” are made to strengthen it.

Upon the receipt of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s resolution, last 18 February 2015, DPWH Secretary Singson immediately ordered DPWH Region 10 to “undertake inspection/assessment and submit report as to the structural integrity of all bridges in Misamis Oriental” and was directed that the issues of Mambayaan Bridge be resolved.

A copy of DPWH Region 10 report was sent to the Office of Vice Governor Joey G. Pelaez last May 19, 2015. The inspection yielded that out of the eleven bridges (Butuan-Cagayan de Oro City-Iligan City Road) that were inspected, three of them are in bad condition while the rest are in poor condition. These findings concern the Vice Governor as statistically at least 20 typhoons visit the Philippines yearly. He strongly pushes for interventions “to anticipate the effects of a more vigorous flow of water, mud and stones.” However, DPWH 10 said that “bridges with Poor and Bad Overall conditions are already scheduled for repair” this year and next year. Vice Governor Pelaez vows to monitor the developments made to address the issues concerning the bridges in Misamis Oriental as they serve “important and valuable role in strengthening the economy of the province.”