Delay in rehab of bridges worsens traffic in Quirino

The Lukban bridge in Diffun town in Quirino province is undergoing rehabilitation but residents say poor traffic management in the area may lead to accidents. —MELVIN GASCON

DIFFUN, Quirino — Residents are blaming the delayed completion of projects to replace or repair four bridges on the Quirino-Aurora Highway for monstrous traffic jams that had become normal here and expressed anger at what some said was lack of action by the government.

“It’s really causing too much inconvenience, especially during rush hour when traffic flow gets tangled up due to lack of proper management,” said Ma. Teresa Aglungob, a college student from Saguday town.

Projects to replace Disinaba and Ganano bridges in the village of Cajel and Lukban bridge in the village of Ma. Clara, and repair of Tungcab bridge in Maddela town, were among 11 listed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through its unified project management office (Upmo), according to Marifel Andes, DPWH district chief in Quirino.

Among the reasons for the delay were attacks by communist rebels demanding revolutionary taxes from contractors, said Melecio Umoquit, DPWH-Upmo project manager.

He said the contractor in charge of the first phase of the project to replace Disinaba bridge sought to terminate his deal “supposedly because of security threats.”

The contract for the second phase of the project, he said, had been hampered by four failed bids.

Rebel harassment was also blamed for delays in work on Lukban and Tungcab bridges, Umoquit said.

On July 13, six soldiers were wounded when their truck was hit by an explosive in the village of Sangbay in Nagtipunan town. Two days later, a police officer and a farmer were wounded in a bomb explosion in Maddela.

The Ganano bridge project was delayed due to opposition from local officials over the bridge construction plan.

The Disinaba bridge has become a traffic bottleneck as motorists queue to drive through a single-lane detour.