Zamboanga del Sur town pushes bridge project for student safety
Students secure their bags as they wade through river waters at the height of heavy rains and flooding on June 25. Photos by Gideon Goc-ong
PAGADIAN CITY — Desperate to return home and tend to their farm animals, students in Barangay Pisompongan, Midsalip town, Zamboanga del Sur, braved the raging waters of the Pisompongan River to reach the other side of the village.
Images of the students crossing the swollen river at the height of the rains and floods on June 25 were captured by their principal, Gideon Goc-ong of Pisompongan Integrated School, and quickly went viral on social media.
Goc-ong said that heavy rains, which triggered flooding and caused the river to swell, posed serious challenges for students and teachers.
On Monday, July 7, Zamboanga del Sur Governor Divina Grace Yu expressed concern over the safety of students and teachers.
Parents carry small children on their backs, Bayanihan-style, to reach the other side of the river. Photos by Gideon Goc-ong
Speaking after the flag-raising ceremony at the Provincial Capitol on Monday, Yu said the existing hanging bridge in Barangay Pisompongan, Midsalip town, was heavily damaged and too old to be of use.
She also vowed to allocate funds for the repair of the village’s damaged hanging bridge while waiting for Congress to approve a budget for a concrete bridge in the area.
Parents carry small children on their backs, Bayanihan-style, to reach the other side of the river. Photos by Gideon Goc-ong
“Although [the hanging bridge] could not last long and could only be used for one to two years, it would help,” Yu said, as she directed the Provincial Engineer’s Office to draft plans for the project.
She added that she is considering requesting a supplemental budget from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to fast-track the funding while waiting for Congress to release funds for the concrete bridge.
Yu emphasized that the problem is not isolated to Pisompongan Integrated School.
Parents carry small children on their backs, Bayanihan-style, to reach the other side of the river. Photos by Gideon Goc-ong
She said other schools in geographically isolated areas of the province face similar challenges, with both students and teachers forced to cross rivers and hike through slopes to reach their classrooms.
The governor said the provincial government is already coordinating with Education Secretary Sonny Angara to address these concerns, although she admitted that securing budget allocations from the national government is no easy task./mcm
