Sapangdaku river Flood risk: Concrete footbridge to be replaced by hanging bridge

The re-channeling project in the Sapangdaku River in Toledo City will resume after residents and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia arrived at an agreement on clearing the river of loose earth and debris which could choke the river current.

Garcia and Toledo City officials led by Mayor Aurelio Espinosa presented the Capitol’s proposal to clear the river to residents.

Those living along the river, especially in barangay Cambang-ug have been complaining since last April that the digging and quarrying in the river is posing a risk to residents who cross the river to reach the poblacion.

Garcia said the river has to be widened and chokepoints need to be cleared.

“We will widen the waterway. We follow its natural path, because if we alter its path, the river may flood your barangay,” Garcia said.

But Garcia said the design of the footbridge provides barriers to debris that may cause damming and trap a huge volume of water upstream. If the pressure builds, a huge volume of water could rush through residential areas in barangay Cambang-ug, she warned residents.

Garcia recalled to them the incident in Anilaw river and the Anilaw bridge which blocked debris. When the bridge gave way to mounting pressure from accumulated water, it wiped out Ormoc City causing tremendous damage to lives and properties in November 1991.

Cambang-ug barangay captain Epifanio Panugan said the concrete footbridge cost P2.6 million. It is financed from barangay funds.

OIC Provincial Engr.  Adolfo Quiroga said they will have to convert the concrete footbridge into a hanging bridge so the pillars which serve as obstructions to debris can be removed.

The governor said the Capitol and the Toledo city government will have to look for funds to replace the footbridge with a hanging bridge.

Elma Abalde, a resident of sitio Kawayan in Cambang-ug, raised before the governor their petition against the quarrying in the river.

In response, Governor Garcia  said she had already suspended the issuance of quarrying permits in the area.

“Do what needs to be done. If quarrying has no permit, that’s illegal. Give us the names. Tell us where they  are living here,” she said. / Carmel Loise Matus, Correspondent