Bonbon Bridge breaks ground

CEBU, Philippines -  After years of waiting, residents of barangays Bonbon and Buot in the mountain area of Cebu City cheered during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Bonbon Bridge project yesterday which marked the end of their long wait for a solid bridge to connect the two barangays.

Target completion for the Bonbon bridge project, which costs P13 million, is six months from now or by summer next year.

It was the answer to the years of clamor of the residents for the government to construct a bridge to finally make it safe for their children who had to brave the waters of the Mananga River to cross to the other side where the school is located.

The bridge will also make it easier and faster to reach barangay Buot (formerly Buot-Taup) and the adjacent barangays of Sinsin, Toong and Pamutan.

Bonbon Barangay Captain Alex Ibarita said that the absence of  a bridge has been a dilemma for the four sitios of Camarin, Gila-gila, Patag and Lubang comprising about 200 people.

Everyday, Ibarita said the residents have to cross the river on barefoot, or if they can afford, through hired motorcycles to reach the barangay proper.

During heavy downpour, water rises up to 8 feet making the river impassable. Worse days are during typhoon when the bridge becomes impassable for a couple of days or more.

Ibarita said that the project is a dream come true.

The Bonbon Bridge Project was funded in last year’s Supplemental Budget No. 2.

The project is long overdue because during the time of former congressman Antonio Cuenco, some P15 million of the latter’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) was earmarked for the project.

Cuenco, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday along with some of the Team Rama candidates, said the money was already due for release in 2010, but his term has already ended. Rep. Tomas Osmeña who succeeded Cuenco was not aware that funds are available for the project.

During his time as mayor, Osmeña also opposed to the project reportedly because it will cost much and yet will only benefit a few.

Mayor Michael Rama said he gave the project to Bonbon along with other projects that would cost about P32 million without considering how big or small the barangay is.

“It doesn’t matter if the barangay is big or small. What’s important is to build connectivity between mountain barangays,” Rama said.

Aside from the Bonbon Bridge, Rama said he is also pushing for three more bridges that will connect Buot and Sinsin, Lusaran ang Tagba-o and Tagba-o and Tabunan.

Rama said accessibility in the mountain area will pave way for more development.  (FREEMAN)