Pinukpuk, Kalinga - Around 541 residents from Barangays Apatan and Wagud could now enjoy better access going to-and-fro in both barangays with the turn-over of the P2 million rehabilitated Tappo Bridge on Thursday, June 24, 2021.
Said bridge, is the only access of teachers and students of the elementary school in Wagud and elementary and secondary school in Tappo, as well as the farmers in delivering their farm produce to the market.
During Typhoon Lawin in 2016, the bridge was heavily damaged that the residents have to cross the Saltan River to reach the other side, which was risky, especially during the rainy seasons. Added to that, when the river rises, people usually get stranded, unable to get to the other side.
The people tried to repair the bridge using bamboo to replace the damaged flooring while the cable wires that survived the typhoon were used as support for those traversing the bridge to hold on.
Having seen the struggle of the people, Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang forged a resolution allotting P1 million for the supposed rehab of the cables, but upon knowing that the fund was not enough, another P 1 million was allocated in 2020 to replace the abutment and totally to repair the bridge.
In an interview, Lower Kalinga District Engineering Office District Engineer Ruby Uyam said the source of fund was under the 2020 General Appropriation Act under the FLR or "For Later Release" Fund.
The rehabilitation of the bridge was completed in September 2020, but the residents requested for its painting and installation of railings. The bridge was then fully completed on October 29, 2020.
Engr. Uyam said that the paints were donated by the Rank and File of LKDEO to help prolong the life of the steel bridge aside from its aesthetic purposes. The railings were also installed to ensure the safety of those using the steel bridge.
“The contractor commenced work at his own risk, pending the award of the project due to no fund release yet after the ECQ in May 2020, and it was completed on October 29, 2020. The fund was released on October 19, 2020,” Uyam said.
In her previous statements, Uyam said that the 2019 fund was programmed for the reconstruction of the abutments and towers while the 2020 fund was for its steel flooring.
However, the bridge’s inauguration and turn-over ceremony only transpired this month because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Uyam said the residents were already using the footbridge since its completion in September.
“Medyo na-late ti inauguration na gapu iti Covid ta last year pa na-schedule yun, diay health and safety protocols tayu iti IATF isu ti maysa nga cause ti delay and during the first quarter ket medyo naging busy gamin ti office kadagiti inar-aramid mi nga proposals kadagiti projects tayu for 2022,” Uyam said.
Attendees of the turn-over ceremony were Congressman Mangaoang, DPWH LKDEO personnel, barangay officials of both recipient barangays and the Municipal local government of Pinukpuk represented by Municipal Administrator Marnel Dasayon.
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