Work on Parang bridge resumes

The bridge project in a picture taken early last May … work now in full swing, says the Mambulao local government unit. – MWBuzzpic by AP HERNANDEZ  

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ
  

THE Mambulao local government unit said recently that the P22.6 million Parang bridge project will be completed according to the schedule set by the contractors.

The bridge was targeted for completion in 130 days (four months and 10 days), after the bridge demolition and clearing of the work site.

Reacting to critical postings on the Facebook site catering to Mambulaoans based overseas and elsewhere in the Philippines, Vice-Mayor Ariel “Aye” Non said that work at the bridge site has resumed with the arrival of a crane that will handle heavy materials such as the 11 piles that will make up the bridge’s foundation.

Non said that it would take at least 28 days to set up the piles as well as the curing period for the concrete poured.

The said piles were fabricated right on the work site and took several days to cure.

Another 15 days would be required to set up the bridge’s super structure, which will be supervised by a team of consultants from the Department of Public Works and Highways head office in Manila.

Non said that it’s only then that the new bridge would be completed and opened to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

He said that the bridge was funded under the President’s Bridge Program in the amount of P20 million, with the LGU chipping in P2.6 million for the demolition of the old bridge and clearing of the work site.

The bridge funding was secured by Mayor Ricarte “Dong” Padilla through the DPWH.

It was closed to traffic last February 19 and a pedestrian (detour) bridge was built to allow passage from either side of the mangrove river.

Commuters from Parang take a long route to the poblacion via the Larap road-Motherlode route and those coming from the town proper take the same route.

People have complained about the extra cost of their tricycle travel from Parang to the poblacion.

Email the writer: ahernandez@thenational.com.pg and alfredophernandez@y7mail.com