ANTIQUE – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to open to traffic on June 5 the reconstructed Paliwan Bridge, a vital infrastructure connecting the southern and northern parts of Antique.
The bridge connects Lau-an town in the north and Bugasong in the south. Two spans in Barangay Cubay North in Bugasong collapsed at the height of Typhoon “Paeng” in October 2022.
“The structural rehabilitation of the Paliwan Bridge is already complete. Ongoing is the painting of our railings and installation of pavement markings. As soon as we complete our painting, we will open it on June 5,” Antique District Engineer Bernadeth Betsy Uy said during the Bagong Pilipinas townhall meeting at the DPWH Region 6 office on Tuesday, May 28.
DPWH-6 director Sanny Boy Oropel said the agency constructed three spans, from the previous two spans, using P70 million from the agency’s quick response fund.
Other than the reconstruction, he said the DPWH is using another P300 million to construct a new bridge, which is already 77 percent completed.
Oropel said they hope to have the new bridge passable to traffic by the second week of August this year.
“We have constructed a new alignment. From the existing two lanes, it will become four lanes,” he added.
The immediate rehabilitation of the Paliwan Bridge was ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., following his visit in October last year.
“Nabanggit ko na po dito sa inyo noong 2022, ngunit uulitin ko na kailangang gawing prayoridad at madaliin ang rehabilitasyon ng Paliwan bridge. Inaatasan ko ang Public Works ng Region 6 na pagtuunan para agarang magka-aksyon,” said Marcos.
The President emphasized that the infrastructure should not only be constructed swiftly but also within quality standards.
“Madaliin ngunit dapat tiyakin din ‘yong matibay at hindi substandard ang pagkagagwa,” he said. “Ang epektibo at mabisang pangangasiwa sa daloy ng produkto at serbisyo mula sa sakahan patungo sa merkado ay isa sa mga dapat natin matugunan.” (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
