Bridge project in Balamban set for rebidding

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government is expediting plans to build a permanent bridge and repair an access road in a mountain community in Balamban, with the project now up for rebidding.

In a Facebook post, Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the project, which aims to provide residents and students with a safer way to cross the Bonbon River, is among the infrastructure concerns being addressed following the damage caused by Typhoon Tino.

In a video recorded by Gerald John Sasing on Thursday, October 15, students and residents were seen wading through the knee-deep, muddy waters of the river after successive days of rain caused it to swell.

The crossing serves as a passage for residents going to school and work.

Baricuatro said the provincial government had initially planned to build a footbridge, but the request was for a permanent bridge that would also be accompanied by road repairs.

“But instead of a foot bridge, the request has been to create an actual bridge and to repair the road pud diha,” Baricuatro said in a statement posted online.

The governor said the project had already undergone bidding earlier this year, but the process failed after the winning contractor was found to have issues involving its previous projects and was subsequently disqualified.

Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said the failed bidding also gave the provincial government an opportunity to further assess the engineering requirements of the proposed bridge, including the river's water level and the appropriate design for the structure.

He said building a bridge requires more than preparing a design, as engineers must also consider the site's geological conditions and determine the appropriate height of the structure to account for rising water levels.

The provincial government wanted to ensure that the bridge would be designed to withstand the conditions at the site rather than proceed with a structure that might require further changes after construction had begun.

Baricuatro said the rebidding is scheduled for November 19, while the provincial government is coordinating with the local government of Balamban to address immediate safety concerns in the area.

“I've instructed PDRRMO to work with the MDRRMO of Balamban so we can ensure that our school children and all others crossing sa pikas bahin are safe,” she said.

The governor said the province would work with concerned local government units to expedite the project while complying with the required procedures.

“Rest assured, we are closely working with the LGUs to fast track what we can while still going through the right processes,” Baricuatro said. — (FREEMAN)