Detour bridges will be built and cargo barges will be used after Paggitan Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan collapsed on Monday, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said Wednesday.
Upon inspection of the bridge with Cagayan Governor Edgardo Aglipay and Alcala Mayor Christina Antonio, Dizon said the Paggitan Bridge is one of five critical bridges used to transport agricultural goods, and with the bridge’s collapse, the alternative route is over 82 kilometers or two hours longer.
‘For trucks, it’s an additional 80 kilometers, So you can just imagine the impact that has on the logistics cost of these essential goods, that’s food. That’s a big deal. Plus, the trip is probably more than two hours. So we need to have an alternative way to transport the goods,’ Dizon said in Filipino Hence, Dizon ordered the DPWH Cagayan regional director to start building a detour bridge.
‘We will mobilize emergency and disaster funds, because even though this is not a disaster, it is a man-made disaster that we need to act on quickly. So we will build a bridge here starting in the next few days. I have already given the go signal to RD to have emergency procurement so that it can start immediately,’ Dizon said.
In the meantime, Aglipay suggested the use of barges to transport goods.
Dizon said that he has discussed the matter with Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez. Dizon also ordered the DPWH regional director in Cagayan to establish detour bridges for the other four bridges used to transport essential goods in Cagayan.
‘The four other critical bridges, I told RD, are that we should also build a detour bridge, right now. Let’s get started, because I wouldn’t be surprised if the situation of this bridge is the same as the situation of our four other critical bridges here in Cagayan,’
Dizon also suggested that if these initiatives are successful, they will know what to do should other bridges also collapse, emphasizing that he will ‘not be surprised’ if more bridges nationwide break down in the same manner.
On Tuesday, Dizon instructed all DPWH officials to coordinate with local and provincial government units to assess the bridges in their respective areas.
He also asked the officials to implement traffic management measures, suggesting that a proper management on the Paggitan Bridge could have avoided the collapse.