Paliwan Bridge, a vital link of Antique province to Aklan province up north, has yet to be restored 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
MANILA, Philippines— A P300 million budget for the construction of a new bridge in Antique has been sought after a section of the Paliwan bridge in the province collapsed due to typhoon ‘Paeng.’
According to Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, the amount was allotted as a Senate amendment to the proposed 2023 national budget now being deliberated in the plenary.
“Pinangako ko, na nagawa ko na ngayon habang pinag-uusapan ang budget, maglaan ng P300 million para amendment sa DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highway) Region 6 para sa isang bagong tulay,” Legarda said on DWIZ over the weekend.
(As promised, I allotted P300 million as an amendment to the DPWH [budget] in Region 6 for a new bridge).
The proposed budget for the construction of the new bridge was separate from the funds allotted this year for retrofitting and reconstruction of the decades old bridge in her hometown province, the senator said.
Even before Paeng hit some parts of the country, Legarda said the bridge that connected the towns of Bugasong at Laua-an was already undergoing retrofitting and reconstruction.
“Habang ginagawa ang retrofitting sa ibang parte, nagkaroon ng Paeng, nag collapsed naman sa ibang lugar kaya buti na lang may pondo sa retrofitting at may Quick Response Fund na ginagamit po ngayon sa reconstruction,” she explained.
(While some parts were undergoing retrofitting, other sections collapsed due to Paeng. It’s a good thing that we have fund for retrofitting and the Quick Response Fund that is now being used for reconstruction.)
“Pero kailangan hindi lang retrofitting, hindi lang reconstruction kailangang bago, kaya yun po ang aking inilagay sa budget amendment ng Senado po dahil wala po yan sa NEP (National Expenditure Program), wala yan sa original budget dahil wala pa namang bagyo nun, hindi pa naman nag collapse kaya tamang-tama hindi pa tapos ang budget kaya po yan ay nilalaan po natin,” said the senator.
(But it should not just be retrofitting and reconstruction, we need a new bridge that’s why I put it in the budget amendment of the Senate because it is not included in the NEP, it’s not in the original budget because at that time there was no typhoon. So we’re proposing it now since we’re not done with the budget yet.)
Not only Paliwan bridge, but all major bridges must also be assessed, monitored and retrofitted, Legarda further said.
The senator then urged the DPWH to conduct and prioritize a risk assessment of all bridges in the country.