Bridges restoration, repairs

replacement OK by August

TAGBILARAN CITY, May 29 (PIA)--The Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) through their Japanese consultant and a team from the regional and district offices assured the completion of the repair and replacement of bridges along the Bohol Circumferential Road that were destroyed or affected by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 2013.

This week, Director Virgilio C. Castillo of DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Roads Management Cluster 1 said the bridge repairs and replacement are part of the Road Upgrading and Preservation Projects which are funded under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan.

And owing to the foreign funds, supervision of the project falls under the DPWH UPMO in Manila, added Bohol District I engineer DPWH District 1 Engr. Francis Antonio L. Flores, during the meeting.

The project covers the reconstruction and repair of six bridges under Package 1 and 2, as well as 1 bridge under Package 3.

And owing to the nature of the loan, as per agreement, with 73% of the funds from Japan, the Philippines also agreed to get technical consultants, who would be implementing construction technologies that would ensure that the bridges can last a similar test, according to Japanese consultant Engr. Masatoshi Kawahara, during a meeting at the Capitol recently.

Started in 2016, Package 1 costing P139.35 million involve the reconstruction of Anislag Bridge in of Maribojoc and Palo and Hinawanan Bridges in the town of Loay.

On the other hand, Package 2 costing P95.13 million comprises of the reconstruction of Damiao in Inabanga town and Hunan Bridge in Buenavista, and as well as the repair of Bateria Bridge in Tubigon town.

Package 3 on the other hand which covers the P445.77 million replacement of the 99-lineal meter Clarin Bridge in Loay town has commenced with a groundbreaking activity by Secretary Mark A. Villar, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr., Congressman Arthur Yap and DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain last April and is planned for completion by October 2019.

Earlier, Engr Kawahara, along with DPWH 7 said that the construction was supposed to be completed a year later, but technical problems have cropped up that caused the delays.

Initial designs in the bridge specify mortar embankments, which according to Japanese consultants, may not be sturdy enough to survive flooding.

We had to redo the design and put in concrete piles instead of mortar embankment which are prone to collapse due to liquefaction, Engr Kawahara said.

Beyond that, the implementing contractor; MAC Builders from Leyte had to arrange with landowners for the temporary detours, the retraining of local workers instead of bringing their experienced workers from Leyte.

Finally, the contractor sourced out their filling materials from Leyte and these have to be barged in, and would be dependent on the weather, DPWH said.

Over this too, the DPWH, who apparently is getting severely criticized for the hassle, has said they are closely monitoring the progress of the construction to complete them by August.

They are now completing the slab decks, which could be finished anytime this month and then the piles for the bridge approaches can follow, Engr Kawahara reported.

“We’ve reminded the contractor MAC Builders to expedite ongoing construction of the bridge to ensure completion and opening before the end of the year,” Director Castillo added as reported by DPWH Media relations Josine Estuye.

“The replacement and repair of these bridges will mean better and resilient link between the towns, hence facilitate safer travels within this tourist-magnet province of Bohol,” said Director Castillo. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Japanese consultant at the DPWH Engr Kawahara listens as Bohol DE Francis Antonio Flores details the problems encountered by MAC Builders in their contracted bridges in Bohol. Both however assure the bridges to be completed by August. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)