SAN FERNANDO, Romblon—Residents of this island municipality have called the attention of officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways to act on the immediate completion of two bridges which remained unfinished for three years now.
The residents said school children bore the brunt of the unfinished projects as they have to shell out P10 each for every banca ride to reach the other side of the river. Parents are also wary of the danger their children are facing whenever they take the banca ride given the river’s strong current.
Also affected are motorcycle owners who pay P200 to boatmen whenever they cross the turbulent river.
Punong Bridge has been impassable since it was demolished three years ago while the Olango Bridge was washed out by three successive typhoons, namely Urduja, Vinta and Agaton when they battered Romblon province last month.
Punong Bridge was demolished by a contractor hired by the DPWH to give way to the construction of a new bridge in 2014. It was replaced by a detour bridge which has been washed out by the turbulent Punong River several times in the past.
Reports said the contractor abandoned the bridge project after it ran out of funds to finish its construction.
Earlier, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar vowed to ensure that “all affected roads and bridges [damaged by typhoons] are passable by January.”
“Following the deadline of the President, we’ll implement a 24/7 construction schedule. Before January ends, all damaged bridges will be passable,” Villar said.