DPWH vows to expedite repairs of bridges, infra damaged by ‘Vinta’

Public Works and Highway Secretary Mark Villar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) vowed on Saturday to swiftly repair all bridges damaged by Typhoon Vinta in Mindanao and assured that all affected infrastructure would be passable before January ends.

Public Works Sec. Mark Villar said Vinta greatly damaged the Dalama, Daligdigan, and Pinuyak bridges in Lanao del Norte.

“I’ve inspected each of the affected bridge and we’re implementing a 24/7 construction schedule to ensure that the deadline set by the President is met,” Villar said in a statement.

“Before January ends, all damaged bridges will be passable,” he added.

The Dalama Bridge is a 27.6-meter bridge located in the town of Munai. The actual damage cost to the structure is about P40 million, Villar said.

“In the long-term, we’re looking at constructing a revetment in the area,” he said.
The Pinuyak Bridge, on the other hand, is a 49-meter bridge in the town of Lala that connects Maranding and Pinuyak Alternate Road.

“We are also studying the possibility of replacing the damaged infrastructure with a permanent bridge with revetment and approaches at the upstream and downstream,” the secretary explained.

The Daligdigan Bridge, meanwhile, is a 49-meter bridge located at the town of Salvador.

Villar said that the DPWH had set a seven-day time table for the repair of the Dalama Bridge and 15 days for Daligdigan with a 24/7 construction schedule. /jpv

RELATED STORY
‘Vinta’ rampages through Mindanao; 28 die