After another boat hits bridge: Gwen: Identify alternate routes
Two incidents within a month involving boats hitting the two bridges linking the islands of
Garcia has instructed the technical committee of the Mactan Cebu Bridge Management Board to study the alternate routes of vessels crossing the Mactan Channel.
“This is something highly unusual. This is disturbing — two incidents in less than one month. We have to weigh between safety and convenience,” said Garcia, who is the MCBMB chairman in an emergency meeting yesterday.
Less than a month after MTKR Damar, the ship that rammed the Marcelo Fernan Bridge last March 10, a barge identified as L. Acuario-2 drifted and slightly scratched pier number 8 on the Lapu-Lapu City side of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge at around 7 a.m. last Sunday.
Sr. Supt. Agustin Molina of the Regional Maritime Office in his report stated that the master of Tug M/T Marc reported to their office that while they are maneuvering at the vicinity of barangay Opao, the barge slightly bumped the island bollard of Total Bulk Corp. due to the strong current.
However before the barge had slightly bumped the bollard, it reportedly had first drifted the pier of the first bridge.
Prior to the incident, the barge and the tugboat departed from Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City at around 6:40 in the morning of Sunday loaded with 140 container vans from Ocean Transport to be transported to Manila.
The tugboat and the barge owned by Cebu-based Asian Shipping Corporation have already expressed its willingness to shoulder all the expenses for the repair of the damaged portion of the bridge.
Nick Pepito, the manager of ASC said that there is an “abnormal current” under the two bridges that would really make it difficult not just for them as well as other shipping lines to maneuver in crossing the channel.
Hearing this observation, the governor said that it is high time to revisit the sea traffic and study possible alternate routes for these vessels.
Garcia said that the MCBMB is primarily tasked to ensure that the bridges will continue to serve the public on the dry land and not to the sea going vessels.
“Wa man tingali na gihimo ang atong mga bridges para agi-anan sa mga barko kun dili para ka agi-an sa mga tawo gikan sa Lapu-Lapu padung sa siyudad,” the governor said.
Garcia instructed representatives from MARINA, Coastguard, Maritime Police and Philippine Navy to render a report whether vessels would still be allowed to cross these bridges or find alternate routes.
Garcia said if passing through these bridges is only for the convenience of the shipping lines and yet the safety of the bridge is always at risk, she added, MCBMB might as well think of a better solution.
The first bridge, according to DPWH legal counsel Augustinito Hermoso cannot withstand a 4.5 intensity earthquake and with such fragility and vulnerability, Garcia decided to use the MCBMB fund for the purchase of rubber fenders for the first bridge.
Garcia however said that whatever amount will be spent for the purchase of these rubber fenders, DPWH will have it reimbursed.
“We cannot wait for DPWH when are they going to release the funds. This is very urgent,” the governor said.
Prior to the Sunday’s incident, Garcia already asked DPWH for the past three weeks for the installation of rubber fenders on the first bridge.
A memorandum of agreement will be signed by DPWH and MCBMB will be signed today for the disbursement of such fund.
On the other hand, Pepito said that their tugboat and barge are now on anchorage at the port in the town of
These vessels would not be used until after an investigation and clearance from
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