Bridge's fast development impresses Arroyo

CEBU, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was impressed by the fast development of the P2.38 billion Cansaga Bay Bridge project, a major component of the North Coastal Road, saying that the bridge would be completed earlier than scheduled.

Originally scheduled to be finished in March, the bridge is almost done as of yesterday. Its construction started last January.

The North Coastal Road, a project of the Office of the President, connects barangay Paknaan in Mandaue City to a provincial road in Consolacion and the Suba Bridge in Liloan town through a highway.

The road aims to provide quicker travel from Metropolitan Cebu to the northern areas of the province.

Early this year, President Arroyo was irked upon witnessing the slow pace of the project, especially the 640-meter Cansaga Bay Bridge.

The President ordered the contracts of some construction firms involved in the project terminated. She also stepped up the project’s completion deadline from August 2010 to December this year.

As of yesterday, project director Nilo Pamayloan said the bridge was around 71.73 percent complete, which is ahead of schedule by 46.38 percent.

Most of the remaining work involves widening the existing roads that serve as approaches to the bridge. The present roads are two-lane but the bridge has four lanes.

President Arroyo inspected the bridge with Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, Cebu City south district Representative Antonio Cuenco, Cebu sixth district Representative Nerissa Soon-Ruiz and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes. — Jasmin R. Uy/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)