Mancatian ahead of schedule

Porac, Pampanga – Mancatian Bridge was inaugurated yesterday by Pampanga Governor Manuel "Lito" Lapid and Vice Governor Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, together with DPWH Secretary Florante Soriquez, Toshiaki Mabuchi, Second Secretary of the Japanese Embassy, Rev. Fr. Resty Lumanlan and other government officials and community leaders. Mancatian Bridge was completed one year ahead of schedule, an amazing feat considering its location, scope and magnitude of works.

The original Mancatian Bridge was destroyed by the initial lahar onslaught in 1991. In 1995, the government constructed a temporary steel bridge at its present location. Unfortunately, this too was washed out during one of the most disastrous lahar events of 1997. For almost seven years since the said collapse of the temporary steel bridge, that span the highly destructive Pasig-Potrero river channel in Barangay Mancatian, Porac, Pampanga, the residents and motorists had endured the arduous task of crossing this river, maneuvering through the circuitous route leading to the active channel that is only passable during the dry season.

Since then, residents and local officials of Pampanga had been clamoring for a replacement of this bridge to ease their sufferings and help in their strive for full recovery. The clamor was further bolstered by the backing of local leaders headed by Pampanga Vice-Governor Mikey Arroyo, Governor Lito Lapid, Rep. Zenaida Ducut and Rev. Fr. Resty Lumanlan.

The Contract Package No. 7: Restoration of Mancatian Bridge including Access Road along the Angeles-Porac Road under the Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project, Phase II, a Japan Bank for International Cooperation assisted project, is a priority project of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through DPWH Secretary Florante Soriquez. This is another milestone in the government’s efforts not only to restore normalcy to the lives of the victims of the Mt. Pinatubo Eruption and its aftermath, but also to improve and bring progress to the countryside. The CP No. 7, being implemented by the Project Management Office-Mt. Pinatubo Emergency (PMO-MPE) headed by Project Director Emil K. Sadain is composed of four major components and their description, namely: Macatian Bridge - 270.34 m long, 9.54 m wide with 1.10 m sidewalk on both sides, 9 span Prestressed Concrete Deck Girder on 1.20 m dia. bored piles; Access Road - 3.63 km long, 13.3 m wide with 3.0 m shoulder on both sides, 25 cm thick Reinforced Portland Cement Concrete Pavement on average of 2.5 m high embankment with slope protection; Bank Protection - 800 m long, 7.0 m high, 20 cm thick Reinforced Concrete; and Drainage Structures – 4 sets Reinforced Concrete Box Culverts and 3 sets Reinforced Concrete Pipe Culverts.