Antique still cut off from rest of Panay

VITAL LINK Paliwan Bridge, a vital link of Antique province to Aklan province up north, has yet to be restored two weeks after the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” (international name: Nalgae), making the transport of goods and movement of people difficult. —PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA VALMONTE

ILOILO CITY—The province of Antique has remained cut off from its neighboring provinces on Panay Island two weeks after Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” (international name: Nalgae) destroyed two major bridges.

The provincial government had to tap the services of barges to deliver goods and other supplies, such as fuel, to Antique.

Gov. Rhodora Cadiao said the situation in the province was not expected to return to normal soon after a section of Paliwan Bridge collapsed due to rampaging water.

The bridge connected Laua-an town in the north and Bugasong town in the south. Without it, people could not directly reach the nearby province of Aklan, which is located north of Antique.

Paeng also severely damaged Oyungan Bridge, which is Antique’s gateway to Iloilo province through the Iloilo towns of Miag-ao and San Joaquin. Those traveling to Antique from Miag-ao may cross the Oyungan Bridge, but only by foot, bicycle or motorcycle.

“Until [all types of] vehicles can pass through Paliwan and Oyungan [bridges], there will never be normalcy here,” Cadiao told the Inquirer on Thursday.

Fuel stock

At present, three barges ferry fuel as well as basic commodities from Iloilo City and Iloilo province to Antique on a weekly basis.

Cadiao said they were renting another barge on the request of business owners in the provincial capital of San Jose de Buenavista. The barge is expected to arrive and be operational on Nov. 13.

The governor said renting barges was difficult since this required permits from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Coast Guard, among others.

NO HEAVY VEHICLES People fall in line as they cross Oyungan Bridge in this Nov. 4 photo. The bridge, Antique’s link to Iloilo province, has been closed to heavy vehicles due to the damage it sustained from Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng.” Bicycles and motorcycles are also allowed to cross the bridge. —PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTIQUE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

Gasoline stations, which initially stopped operations due to damage from Paeng, have reopened after the barges came in with fuel stocks. Their owners have agreed not to raise prices after discussing the matter with provincial and municipal officials.

A barge tanker would also be brought to San Jose de Buenavista port to store fuel and supply smaller gasoline stations, pending approval by the Marina, the Bureau of Fire Protection and other government agencies.

Cadiao said President Marcos had committed to donate P350 million to construct a new bridge to replace the 48-year-old Paliwan Bridge. The President did not mention the repair of Oyungan Bridge.

Another P178 million would also be released to assist the province’s farmers. At least P7 million would be given to the Provincial Veterinary Office while the Department of Trade and Industry had set aside P200 million in sari-sari store packages for typhoon survivors.

Paeng hit the Philippines on Oct. 29, 2022, unleashing flash floods and landslides that killed at least 158 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Of the fatalities, 36 were recorded in Western Visayas provinces. INQ

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