In Pangasinan, DPWH draws flak from execs for unfinished bridges

THE UNFINISHED Magueragday Bridge in San Fabian, Pangasinan province WILLIE LOMIBAO/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—A week after President Aquino praised the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for being a model of efficient governance, the provincial board here blasted the agency over delays in the completion of two major bridges in Pangasinan.

Board Member Liberato Villegas said the completion of the 84-meter Magueragday Bridge, which connects Dagupan City and San Fabian town along the Pangasinan-La Union Road, had become uncertain after it was abandoned by its contractors.

“Why was it demolished when there was no complete fund for its construction?” said Villegas.

Rodolfo Dion, head of DPWH’s second engineering district office, said the bridge had an allocation of P45 million when it started construction in February 2014. But the money, he said, was for its first phase only.

“Unfortunately, the allocation for the construction of Phase 2 was not included in the 2015 General Appropriations Act. So, on March 9, [Pangasinan] Rep. Gina de Venecia wrote [Public Works] Secretary [Rogelio] Singson for additional funding of P50 million to complete the bridge,” said Dion.

Board Member Mojamito Libunao said funding should have been secured before construction began.

“It would be imprudent to start Phase 1 of the project if the funding for Phase 2 is still up in the air. I am surprised at the amount involved—P45 million and all I see are posts,” said Libunao.

Villegas said since the unfinished bridge was abandoned in January, a detour bridge, which is open only to light vehicles, had been ill-maintained.

“It’s approaches are rough, there is no light [guiding motorists] at night and no one is guarding it so even trucks use it, especially at night,” said Villegas.

Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. also asked Dion what was taking DPWH a long time to finish the Sinucalan Bridge, which was demolished in 2013, along the Sta. Barbara-Urdaneta City national road.

Bince, who lives in Rosales town in the eastern part of the province, said he had to endure the slow-moving traffic in Sta. Barbara town every time he comes to the capital Lingayen to hold office.

In an earlier interview, Marietta Mendoza, head of DPWH’s fourth engineering district office, said the delay was due to the change in design of the bridge.

But she said about 80 percent of the P75-million bridge had been completed and will be opened in July. The project was supposed to have been finished in October 2014.

Board Member Nestor Reyes also questioned the closure of the Padilla Bridge, which connects Lingayen and Bugallon towns, when actual construction has not begun.

The bridge was closed to traffic on May 20 for the replacement of its deck slabs. Vehicles bound for Lingayen town from the southern towns of Mangatarem and Aguilar will have to take a 10-kilometer detour through villages in Bugallon and Labrador towns. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon