CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A group of heritage advocates in this city has challenged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), the lead implementer of the proposed Ysalina Bridge development project, to show proof that the 92-year-old infrastructure is "weakening."
ARTHUR Aranas from Kagay-an Heritage Advocates delivers a statement about the proposed removal of the historic Ysalina Bridge in Cagayan de Oro City during a meeting conducted by the public works committee of the city council on Wednesday, September 20. (Franck Dick Rosete)
This came after DPWH-10 representative Engr. Algene Galgo said in a hearing conducted by the public works committee of the city council on Wednesday afternoon, September 20, that there was a "deformation of some parts of the bridge" and "holes" that could be noticed.
"The bridge is not as strong as before. So, that is why we really recommend the reconstruction or replacement of the bridge," Galgo said.
Raul Ilogon from Kagay-an Heritage Advocates urged the DPWH-10 to submit a report to the public works committee signed by their structural engineers indicating the status of the bridge.
"We will then compare that to our private consultants, who are also structural engineers, if those are true, so that we are fair, since we are talking about public safety," Ilogon, who was also at the meeting, said.
Aside from deformations and holes, Galgo also said that the removal of the existing bridge was recommended by the agency considering that it was built 92 years ago and has surpassed the designed lifespan.
Ilogon countered and said that the original bridge, which was built in 1931, was destroyed during the war in 1942, and it was reconstructed in 1946 using the strongest steel in Pennsylvania. In 2005, it was retrofitted.
Councilor John Michael Seno, chairman of the public works committee, expressed concerns about the possible heavy traffic congestion that the project might bring, especially if there is a delay for one to two years. He also sought the preservation of the bridge’s historical value.
ENGR. Algene Galgo, representative of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Region 10, answers questions regarding the proposed Ysalina Bridge development project in Cagayan de Oro City during a meeting conducted by the public works committee of the city council on Wednesday, September 20. (Franck Dick Rosete)
The legislator asked Galgo if they could just allow light vehicles to pass the Ysalina Bridge since the agency said, based on their assessment, that it could no longer carry huge trucks. "If it can't handle that load, let's just put in some loads that can handle it," Seno said.
Galgo responded to Seno’s query, citing previous discussions between city government offices about the proposed project, but Seno insisted not to mention the involvement of the city government since the project is from DPWH.
A representative from the DPWH-Cagayan de Oro City First District Engineering Office explained that the load capacity of the Ysalina Bridge has been reduced to four from 10 tons, based on the inspection report by the DPWH-10 planning division.
Seno did not believe the updated capacity of the bridge and asked the agency to provide the committee with the report.
Councilor James Judith II questioned the series of meetings held by the DPWH about the project without any representatives from the City Historical Commission.
Galgo said they had been inviting the commission but no representative was able to come. Judith argued that the agency should make an effort to set up a meeting in the presence of the City Historical Commission.
The DPWH-10 representative also said that the agency has coordinated with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Seno asked if the commission allowed them to remove the bridge but Galgo could not provide an answer since he is not part of the planning division.
MEMBERS of the Kagay-an Heritage Advocates listen as government officials tackle the proposed Ysalina Bridge development project in Cagayan de Oro City during a meeting conducted by the public works committee of the city council on Wednesday, September 20. (Franck Dick Rosete)
The DPWH-10, Galgo said, proposed a new four-lane Ysalina Bridge, considering that both approach lanes in Barangays 1 and 2 were four lanes, as they were aiming to solve the congestion from these approaches.
She said they will retain the old design of the bridge with provisions for bicycle and pedestrian lanes. But all the heritage advocates who attended the meeting were not in favor of the plan.
Councilor Agapito Suan suggested refraining from destroying the historic Ysalina Bridge until they exhausted all their efforts.
A motion to defer the matter was raised and Seno asked the DPWH-10 for the structural analysis of the bridge to enable them to discuss it in the next meeting before the public works committee could make a stand.