5 bridges in province may get foreign aid

The Central Visayas Regional Development Council has endorsed five bridges in Cebu province to the Department of Public Works and Highways for inclusion under the Spanish-Assisted Bridge Construction/Replacement Project.

The bridges are Mangoto Bridge along the Toledo City-Pinamungahan-Aloguinsan-Mantalongon road in Pinamungajan town, the Ylaya Bridge along the Argao-Ronda road, the Kampatok Bridge along the Sogod-Tabuelan road in Tabuelan, the Binalayan Bridge along the Santander-Barili-Toledo road in Samboan town and the Ylaya I Bridge along the Barili-Mantayupan road in Barili.

Also included in the endorsement are the Tibyawan Bridge along Dumaguete North Road in Tayasan, Oriental Negros and Matin-ao II Bridge along Jagna-Sierra Bullones Road in Jagna, Bohol.

The DPWH has requested RDC to endorse the said bridges for inclusion in the said foreign-assisted project.

Construction and replacement of these bridges will restore their structural integrity and ensure the safety of vehicular traffic as well as the commuters, thus enhancing the economic activities within their respective influence areas.

Two of these bridges, the Ylaya and Ylaya I, are already included in the RDC-endorsed Regional Development Investment Program for 2005-2010 and Priority Programs, Activities and Projects for 2007-2009, respectively.

The Provincial Development Councils of Bohol, Cebu and Oriental Negros also have endorsed the other bridges for inclusion under the Spanish-Assisted Bridge Construction/Replacement Project. - Gregg M. Rubio