Ermita village chief wants footbridge to Pasil reconnected

CEBU, Philippines —  The barangay captain of Ermita, Cebu City has asked the city government to re-connect the footbridge that serves as an access road to responders and residents of both Ermita and Pasil.

Barangay Captain Mark Miral, in an interview with The Freeman, said the footbridge got some gaps after the implementation of the rehabilitation of the Guadalupe River.

“Wala na siya maguba apan tungod kay gipalapdan man ang Guadalupe River para sa flood control, mao ng nakuwang na siya diha karon,” said Miral.

Miral said they are yet to make a resolution regarding this concern for the Department of Engineering and Public Works to be able to check on it.

Even without the resolution though, the city council’s chairman on the committee on infrastructure and flood control projects, Councilor Jerry Guardo, has already made its initial survey of the area and said they will work on it.

Guardo said that due to the widening of the river, around six to eight-meter gap on the footbridge was seen and needs to be addressed immediately.

“I understand the concern of Kap Miral and sa mga residente nga kinahanglan gyud ni masumpay nag balik kay tuyok na kaayo ang mga residente, mosakay pa sila kung wala ang foot bridge. Peligro pud kaayo kung molabang sila sa sapa,” said Guardo.

Guardo assured that this concern will be attended to immediately with Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella also approving it already.

Aside from the residents, the footbridge also serves as an access road to responders in case of fire and other emergency situations.

“Magpatawag unya ko og meeting sa taga DPWH, DEPW aron sa paghimo og program of work and estimate (POWE) sa mao nga proyekto ug ang pag-recover sa 3 meters easement na road-right-of-way daplin sa sapa,” said Guardo. — GMR (FREEMAN)