Commuting by motor boat: residents face difficulties after Cabagan and Sta. Maria bridge collapse

Santa Maria, Isabela—Since the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge collapsed last month, the residents of the two towns have been facing difficulties in their daily commutes.

The new bridge briefly served as a convenient way for them to get to their destinations passing through the Cagayan River.  

The bridge, once a vital link between Cabagan and Santa Maria towns, allowed for easy access across the river. Now, with the bridge down, commuters are forced to navigate other, but longer and more challenging, routes. 

After the bridge collapsed on February 27, the students, workers, and other travelers have to use motorboats as their primary means of crossing the river. 

In a video shared by a local media outlet near the area, it can be seen how the people, along with motorcycles and bikes, are being transported by motorboats to the other side of the river.  

The boats have become the quickest way for them to reach their workplaces and schools for the meantime. However, commuting by motorboat also causes delays and inconveniences as the passengers have to wait for their turn to be ferried across.  

As the people wait for the bridge to be repaired, many are hoping that the government and concerned agencies will prioritize a faster solution to ease their burden.